CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Klopp blasts ‘criminal’ holiday festive fixtures

JURGEN KLOPP has branded the festive fixture list a “crime” against football.

In a rare sign of accord with bitter rivals Manchester City, the Liverpool boss has again hit out at the crazy Premier League Christmas scheduling which sees his title adversaries play two games within 48 hours.

Klopp accepts that gives his side a massive advantage in the race to be champions because they play twice in three days…which he says is “like a holiday” at this time of the year.

But the Reds manager made a serious and damning

point, when he insisted his countrymen in Germany would simply not

accept a timetable that puts players at such a health risk.

“None of the managers have a problem playing on Boxing Day but playing on the 26th and 28th is a crime,” said Klopp (above, left). “There is no reason why more teams do not get more than 48 hours between a Premier League game. We can say what we want but no one is listening.

“Sports science gives you nothing to deal with this. The body needs a specific amount of time to go again.

“But we ignore that completely. We just say, ‘Oh, they look strange running around again today’.”

City boss Pep Guardiola (above, right) has condemned his side’s programme, which sees them face Wolves at 7.45pm tomorrow and Sheffield United at 6pm on Sunday.

That is not even 46 hours and even though his side have an advantage, Klopp insisted it is insane.

He added: “This year we play 26th and 29th and it is like a holiday. In Germany it would probably cause a lot of problems.”