Reds boss Klopp renews attack on Premier League TV schedule
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has taken another shot attelevisionbroadcastersafter stating no other league in the worldwouldschedulematches like they do in England.
If they get through their Champions League quarterfinal against Benfica tonight, overwhomtheyhavea3-1lead, Klopp’s side face a last-four tie against either Bayern Munich or Villarreal.
However, what irks him more is following that potential semi-final Liverpool then have to travel to Newcastle for aSaturdaylunchtimekick-off.
“If we get through we have a semi-final, and then BT and the Premier League thought we should have Newcastle awayat12.30,”saidKlopp,who hasoftenragedagainsttheway fixtures are organised.
“The schedule, and how people use the fame in the moment–Liverpoolishotand everyone wants to see them – they couldn’t care less. It’s just notOK.IfweplayaChampions Leaguesemi-final,findmeanother league in the world and another broadcaster in the worldwhowouldputthatteam in a 12.30? “What are you doing? Why would you do that? It’s because nobody cares. It’s unbelievably difficult.”
Carabao Cup winners Liverpool are still in contention for an unprecedented quadruple but with a two-goal advantage heading into the second leg it was suggested to the manager he might want to tailor his selection against Benfica with a view to the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at the weekend.
Klopp,however,refusedto under-estimateBenficawhen they come to Anfield.
“The next game has absolutely no influence on the line-up, but the last game obviously has,” said Klopp.
“Sowehavetosee.Itisasuper-intense schedule. There is nobody injured, as far as I know, but we have to be careful with who is fresh enough for this game and stuff like this. We see it as a super-important game, but we are in a world where if you win the first leg 3-1 and you have City either side, people think you can focus elsewhere. We see it slightly differently.
“We tried to hard to qualify for the Champions League, and now we can make it to the semis, which is incredible, and that’s what we want to show. We are part of four competitions, and thankfully we are good enough this year not to go out early. We just try to squeeze everything out of every competition. Some are possible, we will see.”