Jurgen Klopp slams Premier League bosses and TV broadcaster over jampacked fixtures, claims club are alone protecting players.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has once again slam Premier League over their jampacked fixtures in the competition.
The Reds is handed a lunch time kick off at Newcastle United shortly after a potential Champions League semi-final game.
The Reds boss has been vocal on the importance of protecting players amid hectic fixture schedules during his time in England and raised the issue ahead of his side’s clash in Europe this week.
The Merseyside giants are still competing on three fronts after winning the Carabao Cup in February but said the focus is only on the next game, given the jam-packed programme.
“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,’ Klopp said ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie against Benfica on Wednesday.
“BT and Premier League gave us Newcastle 12.30… people want to see us on TV as we’re hot, I couldn’t care less.
“It’s unbelievable. We played City, so tough, how could I think about other competitions? We play Benfica, I cannot think of anything else. We just try to make it to the last, final decisive step.
“If we play a Champions League semi-final, if you find another league in the world and another broadcaster who would put the one team in the semi-final on a 12.30pm kick-off… what are you doing? Why would you do that?’
Should Liverpool progress to the Champions League semi-finals, the first leg will be either on April 26 or April 27 against Villarreal or Bayern Munich, with the Saturday 12.30pm kick-off in Newcastle on April 30.
In the 2020-21 season Klopp stressed that the clubs were ‘alone’ in protecting players.
“The Premier League and TV broadcasters gave us a challenge, because they don’t care if our players play in Peru on a Wednesday night, they say they can then play again on Saturday,” he said.
“In these moments, clubs we are alone. I really think, here in their own country, Premier League and broadcasters don’t care. You have to make sure you brings players home in quickest and most safe way. This is the situation we are in.”
