Klopp backs five subs in new attack on schedule

JURGEN Klopp reiterated his criticism of the festive scheduling as the Liverpool manager voiced his support for the reintroduction of five substitutes per game to protect player welfare.

The Reds were spared the burden of having to play twice in three days as Leeds’ visit to Anfield on Boxing Day was called off following a Covid19 outbreak, on top of the existing illness and injuries within Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Liverpool will therefore head to Leicester tonight a bit fresher and with Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones back in the ranks following the first-team quartet’s period in isolation.

But Klopp, who has previously spoken out against the volume of fixtures over the Christmas period, believes the Leeds and Leicester games being originally slated for December 26 and 28 respectively is unconscionable.

“The situation should not be like this and we can discuss this every year,” he said.

“It’s tradition and we want to play on Boxing Day, we could have played on Boxing Day and that would have been no problem at all.

“But playing on the 26th and the 28th is just not right, I just say that because it’s true and I think we can find solutions for that. It’s not that difficult to play football in a slightly different way. The 26th and the 29th, where’s the problem?

“It would just help the players, even without Covid, and the problem is now some teams definitely have a proper Covid problem at the moment and you rush a smaller group of players through two games.

“You need luck in these moments and you should not need luck.

“We do not stop discussing it because if we don’t discuss it, it just stays like this.

“Maybe it stays like this anyway but the players need help and help needs to come from other areas.”

Klopp’s Chelsea counterpart Thomas Tuchel has suggested that one way of alleviating the workload on some players would be to go back to allowing two additional changes per match.

It is a rule which came into force at the height of the coronavirus pandemic last year before the league reverted to the traditional three substitutes this term, with 14 clubs needing to vote in favour of a permanent rule change.

While Klopp is in favour of moving back to five substitutes, he doubts it would get rubber-stamped by the Premier League as some clubs are resistant to the idea, believing it benefits bigger teams.

“We talk about an issue that some players and clubs definitely have but it’s decided by other teams. That is a real problem,” he said.

“The best and most intense league in the world is the only league in Europe and maybe the world with still three subs.

“That is not right. We should change it.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has again criticised the festive fixture schedule. These dwarf evergreen Azalea are perfect for borders or patio pots and containers. They produce masses of brightly coloured flowers that will create a breath-taking display.