This weekend’s Merseyside derby will mark the second time the Reds have had to play the early kick-off immediately following an international break.
Their clash with Manchester City on November 25 with will be the third time.
This week, Liverpool have to prepare for four players arriving back from South America early Wednesday morning, involving serious travelling and not much opportunity for rest.
Alisson Becker with Brazil, Alexis Mac Allister with Argentina, Luis Diaz with Colombia, and Darwin Nunez with Uruguay are the Reds international South Americans.
The issue annoyance with early kick-offs is primarily focused on potential fatigue and subsequent impact on upcoming games.
Klopp’s one solution to early kick-off problem
Liverpool can use next week’s Europa League clash with Toulouse to rest his South American stars.
Firstly, it is essential to note that participating in international tournaments, such as the World Cup qualifiers, is an honour for any player.
They also gain invaluable experience, confidence, and most importantly, opportunities to showcase their skills on another global platform.
This, in turn, proves beneficial for their respective clubs as they return more polished, experienced, and motivated. Albeit a bit worse for wear.
That is the crux of the issue. Footballers already have such grueling club schedules and with the Premier League not protecting its players from potential injury, managers are forced to find solutions.
Liverpool are set to face Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday and Klopp will, at least, be able to use the fixture to ensure Alisson, Nunez, Diaz and Mac Allister are able to rest.
A reassuring factor is Liverpool’s depth is much improved compared to last season so they should not struggle without them.
After the Europa League game, the players have ample time to recover and regain their fitness for the Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest slated for Sunday, the 29th of October.
This provides a well-deserved and necessary break, ensuring the players are well-rested and ready for the game.
Source: Anfield Central
