Liverpool big winners of EPL winter break
We are up to eighth, which shows just how tight the league can be. We spoke all day yesterday and this morning as well about if we want to be serious contenders for the top six. Cardiff City manager Neil Harris
Arsenal defender Martin Keown yesterday said Liverpool will benefit from the Premier League winter break, with the Reds set to enjoy a 13 day break before their next game.
Following the busy Christmas period, clubs are being given a break for the first time, with the current round of games split over two weekends.
This means one half of the Premier League gets two weeks off and then the other half will get two weeks off as well.
Writing in his weekly column for the Daily Mail, Arsenal legend Keown believes Liverpool are one of the biggest winners from the break.
“So who are the winners and losers?” he wrote.
“Top-four chasing Chelsea and Manchester United will be pleased with the way their fixtures have fallen, with a full 15 days off.
“By comparison, Southampton get nine days, and have to deal with the disappointment of an FA Cup replay defeat by Tottenham.
“When Liverpool return to action – away at Norwich this weekend – they’ll come back watered, rested and ready to go as the runaway leaders. Whereas Crystal Palace may have mixed feelings about this break.
“Last week Patrick van Aanholt, Christian Benteke and Andros
Townsend returned for the first time since December after their respective injuries. After facing Everton yesterday they then have 13 days off.
“The mid-season break is unprecedented in the Premier League and we will learn over the coming weeks who the winners are.
“Perhaps the biggest winners of all, with Euro 2020 just months away, could be Gareth Southgate and his England team.”
Meanwhile, Starsport columnist Paul Merson has branded the winter break “unfair”, saying: “The winter break is a
BT Sport. ba**s-up. There’s no other way to look at it. It just hasn’t really worked.
“It’s not really even a break is it? It’s just a Saturday off. It needs to be longer if you really want to help the players.
“But the biggest problem is that not everybody is off at the same time. I know you can’t keep everyone happy all the time – but that feels unfair.”
Jurgen Klopp’s men have been enjoying their week off. Several stars such as Roberto Firmino and Fabinho jetted off to chase the sun while others, including Adam Lallana and Trent Alexander-Arnold, have headed across the pond to the USA.
But Dr Danny Longman, lecturer in Physiology and Nutrition at
Loughborough
University, has suggested this was a bad idea.
Speaking exclusively to StarSport, he said: “Long-haul flights are notoriously bad for athletic performance.
“Not only is there the effect of sitting still for long periods of time, but jet lag plays havoc with ability to perform.
“To regain optimal physical performance, it can take a day of recovery for every hour of time zone change.
“So, if a player were to travel to the Maldives with a five-hour time difference, it would take five days after landing in the UK for 100% performance recovery.”
But the fitness expert went on to suggest there was another benefit to travelling long distances.
“However, I cannot stress enough the psychological importance of a break,” Dr Longman added. – Daily Star though, a moment of magic from Richarlison swung the game back in their favour seven minutes later.
The Brazilian stormed onto CalvertLewin’s flick-on to carry the ball from just inside the Palace half and past Gary Cahill before placing his shot into the far corner.
The same two players were involved when Everton sealed the points two minutes from time as Richarlison’s header from a corner came off the bar and Calvert-Lewin turned home his 13th goal of the season.
Everton’s next four matches include trips to Arsenal and Chelsea and home games against Manchester United and Liverpool – so this could prove to be a vital three points for Ancelotti’s team. – AFP