Jurgen Klopp furious at Liverpool’s fixture pile-up after Des Kelly row but Reds have cushiest Christmas of all PL clubs
JURGEN KLOPP’S been an outspoken critic of Premier League scheduling in recent weeks.
But the German may at least grab a crumb of comfort from the fact that his side actually have the cushiest Christmas schedule of all top-flight clubs in England.
Klopp, 53, has been a vocal supporter of the five-substitute rule.
But kick-off times have also been a gripe of his, having engaged in an astonishing on-screen row with composed BT Sport reporter Des Kelly following last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Brighton.
Liverpool have seen a number of players succumb to injury this season, with James Milner the latest, having limped out of the Amex clash with a hamstring problem.
But with an average of 4.5 days between games during the Christmas period of 19-30 December, Klopp actually has the joint-biggest gap of any team in the Premier League.
In fact, only Fulham boss Scott Parker will have it as good in the upcoming period, in which the Reds will take on Crystal Palace, West Brom and Newcastle.
Liverpool’s fierce rivals Everton, on the other hand, will have to contend with an average of just TWO days between matches.
And both Manchester clubs also find themselves in the same boat.
North London duo Arsenal and Spurs have an average of 2.3 days between games.
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Aston Villa, Burnley, Leicester, West Ham and Wolves, meanwhile, have three.
Brighton, Crystal Palace, Leeds and West Brom have 3.5 – as well as Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United.
Southampton’s ‘Alpine Klopp’ Ralph Hasenhuttl will have four days between matches.