In this June 17, 2020 photo, the Premier League logo is pictured on the match ball ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England. (DAVE THOMPSON / POOL / AFP)

MANCHESTER - Proposals from Liverpool, Manchester United and the Football League (EFL) for major changes to the structure of the Premier League were met with swift criticism from England’s top flight on Sunday and the UK government and fans.

Liverpool and United are backing a plan to radically change the Premier League’s structure, giving more power to the big clubs, reducing it from 20 clubs to 18 for the 2022-23 season and scrapping the League Cup and Community Shield.

The plan would see the Premier League commit to providing 25 percent of the league’s revenue to Football League (EFL) clubs and a 250 million-pound rescue fund to help with the immediate impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

The plans, dubbed Project Big Picture, have been put together by Liverpool’s American owners Fenway Sports Group, with support from United’s Florida-based owners the Glazer family.

Manchester United and Liverpool did not respond to a request for comment.

Liverpool and United are backing a plan to radically change the Premier League’s structure, giving more power to the big clubs, reducing it from 20 clubs to 18 for the 2022-23 season and scrapping the League Cup and Community Shield

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EFL chairman Rick Parry said the reforms were needed to address “a chasm which has become unbridgeable” between the second tier and the Premier League.

But it was not clear how many Premier League or EFL clubs had been consulted about the proposals and the Premier League itself was critical of the plans.

“In the Premier League’s view, a number of the individual proposals in the plan published today could have a damaging impact on the whole game and we are disappointed to see that Rick Parry, Chair of the EFL, has given his on-the-record support,” the league said in a statement.

The Premier League said it supported a “wide-ranging discussion on the future of the game” including competition structures, calendar and finances.

“Football has many stakeholders, therefore this work should be carried out through the proper channels enabling all clubs and stakeholders the opportunity to contribute,” the statement added.

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Critical stance

A spokesperson for the Department of Culture Media and Sport, the UK ministry responsible for football matters, also took a critical stance.

“We are surprised and disappointed that at a time of crisis when we have urged the top tiers of professional football to come together and finalise a deal to help lower league clubs there appear to be backroom deals being cooked up that would create a closed shop at the very top of the game,” the spokesperson said.

“Sustainability, integrity and fair competition are absolutely paramount and anything that may undermine them is deeply troubling. Fans must be front of all our minds, and this shows why our fan led review of football governance will be so critical.”

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) also came out against the plan.