REDS FACE FIXTURE PILE-UP

LIVERPOOL face the demanding prospect of playing eight games in 24 games at Christmas after FIFA finally confirmed their participation in the Club World Cup. FIFA had left Liverpool officials bewildered by the lack of information since the governing body stated on June 3 they would be included in the Club World Cup. That continued yesterday when the club were first made aware of the arrangements via a universal press bulletin. Liverpool already have six Premier League fixtures scheduled in December. They will play their final Champions League group game on December 10 or 11 and face Watford at home three days later. They will travel to Doha immediately after that but the December 21 trip to West Ham will be rescheduled. Sportsmail understands it might be as late as March before the match can be played. Liverpool enter the Club World Cup at the semifinals. They will play on December 18 with the final and third-place play-off three days later. If they were to reach the Carabao Cup quarterfinals there would be an added headache as those ties are scheduled for the week Liverpool are in the Middle East.