Lopetegui slams fixture schedule before Cup clash

JULEN LOPETEGUI took aim at Premier League bosses after Liverpool were given an extra two days to prepare for tomorrow’s FA Cup tie against his Wolves side.

The staggered Christmas and New Year schedule saw Liverpool beaten 3-1 at Brentford on January 2. Wolves drew 1-1 at Aston Villa 48 hours later, in Lopetegui’s third game. The Spaniard may be forced to shuffle his pack at Anfield, especially as Wolves have a Carabao Cup quarter-final at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

‘I don’t understand how you can play in a knockout competition with two days less preparation time than the opponent,’ he said. ‘Maybe the opponent can have one day extra, but two is a lot and makes a big difference to us.’ Wolves will renew their push to sign a midfielder after Lopetegui revealed Boubacar Traore had been ruled out for at least a month with a thigh problem.

Wolves are expected to make a third attempt to bring in Mario Lemina after having two bids rejected by Nice.