Liverpool have confirmed their involvement in a European Super League.
A statement released by the Premier League champions late on Sunday outlined the controversial breakaway proposal involving 12 continental clubs.
Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City joined the Reds as well as teams from La Liga and Serie A as founding members.
The move has been met with both condemnation and opposition from UEFA, the Premier League and Football Association, who have vowed to challenge it.
Sanctions could include players being banned from competing in international tournaments such as the World Cup if their clubs join the Super League.
UEFA had been due to ratify a restructuring of the Champions League that would see the competition’s group stage extended to 36 teams from 2024.
But European football’s governing body is expected hold crisis talks with the 12 clubs involved in the Super League in efforts to prevent a split from them.
“Liverpool Football Club can confirm that we have joined Europe’s leading clubs in agreeing to form a new competition, the European Super League,” read a club statement.
“We are committed to working with all stakeholders, particularly supporters, as plans for the competition develop.”
The proposed format of the Super League would see leagues launched for both the men’s and women’s teams with 20 participating clubs involved.
Of those 20 teams, 15 founding clubs will be guaranteed places while five further teams can qualify based on achievements in the previous year.
Fixtures will take place in midweek to ensure that domestic commitments can be filled, despite the Reds facing potential expulsion from the Premier League.
Teams will be split into two groups of ten with those finishing in the top three automatically qualifying for the quarter finals of the league’s latter stages.
Those who end the normal season in fourth and fifth will compete in a play-off across two legs for the remaining quarter final positions.