Klopp complains about ‘unbelievable’ Liverpool fixture schedule

Joe Williams
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp shouts instructions at his players

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is unhappy about his side’s fixture schedule ahead of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash against Benfica tomorrow.

It has been confirmed that the Reds’ Premier League match against Newcastle United on April 30 will be played at 12.30pm despite Klopp’s side potentially playing a Champions League semi-final the midweek before.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Klopp said: “The fixture list we have now…we have to get through. I am only concerned about Benfica now. Then City Saturday. United, Everton and maybe a semi.


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“BT and PL gave us Newcastle away at 12.30pm. The schedule and how people use the ‘fame’ in the moment. ‘Liverpool is hot and everyone wants to see them’. They couldn’t care less the TV stations.

“I know I’m angry but it’s just not okay. ‘If’ we play a Champions League semi-final. If you find another league in the world and another broadcaster where they put the one team in the semi-final – it might be two or three English teams – on a 12.30… throw them a stick between the legs. What? Why would you do that.

“That’s why it’s so difficult and why it never happens because nobody cares. It’s unbelievable. We played City, so tough, how could I think about other cups?

“We play Benfica, how could I think about winning the Champions League. We just try to to squeeze everything out to stay as long in the competition as possible, hopefully in the final or in the league that you can make the last decisive step.”

On how much their clash against Man City has taken out of them, Klopp told reporters: “The next game has no influence on the line up for tomorrow but the last game has so we have to see.

“Super intense schedule. There is nobody injured as far as I know but we need to look at who is fresh enough for this game.

“We see it as a super important game to us. We tried to so hard last year to qualify for the Champions League and now we can make it to semis which is incredible.”

On their clash against Benfica, Klopp added: “We were good in Benfica, I liked the game.

“The main target is again being the one team no one wants to play. Really aggressive in a football sense, defending well, knowing more about the way they play.

“They wanted to isolate in moments Darwin (Nunez) a little bit with Konate.

“There is a lot to do, speed with Rafa Silva. There’s so many things we knew before but you see it on the pitch it’s really impressive.

“At half-time you know more about the opponent, adjust and go again.”