Jurgen Klopp has been incredibly vocal on the subject of Liverpool's fixture congestion but the Premier League champions actually have the easiest schedule coming up.
The Reds boss has blamed LFC's injury woes in part on a "dangerous" number of fixtures coming back to back, with the Reds playing Champions League games in midweek then Premier League matches at the weekend.
But, as a graphic from The Independent illustrates, Liverpool actually have the kindest spread of games over the Christmas period.
From 19 December to 30 December when the league matches come ridiculously thick and fast, Liverpool and Fulham play "only" a game every four-and-a-half days. By far the best layout.
Advert
By contrast, Manchester City, Manchester United and Everton play an astonishing game every two days. Which will have Carlo Ancelotti raising an eyebrow.
Arsenal and Tottenham don't get it much easier with a 2.3 matches per day, while Chelsea have it only slightly better at a game every two-and-half days. So all of Liverpool's title rivals face a far trickier 12 days over Christmas than the Reds.
Klopp's side will, of course, have to make up the games at other times. But we're sure 53-year-old will be delighted to hear his team have it better than others at a time when they are really struggling with a succession of injuries, both long term and short term.
Advert
The charismatic Liverpool boss has been unusually spiky this season, particularly when it comes to the topic of fixture scheduling. He got into a heated exchange with BT Sport's Des Kelly after Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Brighton a week ago.
"I don't know how often I have to say it, you picked [Liverpool for] the 12:30pm kick-off. You, not you personally, but you [the broadcaster] did it," said Klopp.
"I'm not having a go at the broadcaster, I just say how it is. Saturday 12:30pm [kick-off] after Wednesday is really, really dangerous for the players."
He went on to add: "I think everybody would agree that if you play Tuesday night, you can play the Saturday 12:30pm game, but somehow the Premier League never realises that... They always put in the Wednesday night game, like last Saturday, Man City had to play this game [12:30pm on Saturday] - I can't believe it.
Advert
"We are obviously not friends, we play against each other and fight against each other, but how is that possible? Maybe I'm too dumb.
"Premier League CEO Richard Masters and all the others have all said it before: 'Come on, that's how it is.' They just aren't bothered. I don't understand why."
Naturally the absence of European fixtures will ease Liverpool's constant grind of games anyway in December.
Advert
But Klopp will be pleased (surely?) that broadcasters and the Premier League have somehow chosen their games so that Liverpool get a bit of rest over the Christmas period.
Featured image credit: BT Sport/PA Images/The Independent
Featured Image Credit: The Independent/PATopics: Liverpool, Football News, Football, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool News
