THE VIEW FROM THE STANDS

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RED GLUM

Liverpool have to play two matches in two days across two competitions. Something has to give. The EFL Cup has been disrespected as a result, and the clash adds additional strain to an already-congested fixture list. Where does it all end? I want to see quality football, not scrapping to fill fixtures.

We were informed in an article on fourfourtwo.com that Liverpool have home and away catering teams in order to function at full strength, and fulfil fixture demands. Could the first team follow suit in future and have two or three mini-squads playing in different competitions?

Jurgen Klopp is right when he says a solution has to be found – I want to see my team at its very strongest wherever possible, not watered down. Leo Bergin, via email

FOLLOW THE MATILDAS

The battle for equal pay between men and women isn’t new. The BBC is criticised every year and it’s the same in Hollywood, where men generally receive double that of their female counterparts. Now the US women’s football team is engaged in a public fight for better playing conditions and has seen some success, with several top stars like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan gaining greater profiles and recognition, yet equal pay has still not been achieved over there.

Recently, though, there has been a breakthrough from the Australian Football Federation, who agreed to pay its female footballers the same as their men. Star player Sam Kerr – now of Chelsea – is breaking scoring records and riding on the tremendous success of the 2019 World Cup. I hope more associations do the same, so that women’s football can set its sights on new heights. But it needs everyone on the same page. Ezra Finkelstein, via email

GOOD NEIGHBOURS

Might I suggest a reform to the EFL Trophy? Invite a selection of sides from the Welsh and Scottish leagues for the best of all worlds, keeping our domestic leagues, with European qualification, but adding a cross-border competition (like the Scottish Challenge Cup) for extra interest. I don’t want Celtic and Rangers to leave Scottish football, but more matches between clubs in the

English leagues and the Celtic leagues would arguably help attendances to grow, and might have a transformative effect for those in Wales. I’d invite the top four Welsh league sides, as well as Scottish Premiership teams who haven’t qualified for European football that season.

It would be great fun having more decent-sized sides in the EFL Trophy. The games are played on European weeknights, so it wouldn’t be a huge burden on teams in Scotland and Wales to feature. And who wouldn’t love the chance to reach Wembley?