Liverpool players used most in break
Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp must have been hiding behind their sofas during the international break rather than watching their players on duty for their countries.
Guardiola saw two of his players, Kyle Walker and John Stones, pick up injuries on England duty, but it was Liverpool’s squad who did most work during the break from domestic football.
Klopp’s players on international duty played an average of 120 minutes over their two matches, which included Konstantinos Tsimikas getting taken to extra-time in Greece’s defeat by Georgia in the Euro play-off eliminator.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk both played two full matches, and Andy Robertson was injured while playing for Scotland, picking up an apparent ankle complaint. Liverpool face Brighton at home on Sunday and also had Joe Gomez come off the bench twice for England and play 103 minutes. He came on against Brazil and Belgium after injuries to his two teammates from City. Walker and Stones were both forced off early and have left Guardiola sweating on their fitness for Sunday’s title showdown against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. Matheus Nunes also has a knock.
City’s players featured for an average of 109 minutes over the two international games and they had more players in action, too. England manager Gareth Southgate insisted there was no risk playing Stones for a second game in four days, with other City players such as Erling Haaland and Nathan Ake also appearing twice.
Arsenal’s players on duty played an average of 118 minutes but Bukayo Saka returned home without kicking a ball as an injury precaution. Jakub Kiwior played 210 minutes after Poland were taken to penalties by Wales to get to the Euros.
Southgate insisted that players’ data was analysed before decisions were made on their workload, and that Stones was coming back from a spell on the sidelines, so being overworked was not an issue. At the end of the international break, Walker has a hamstring problem and Stones needs assessment on his adductor.
“We measure everything and the first game for [Stones] wasn’t a game that was a high level in terms of the intensity,” Southgate said. “We have done exactly what Holland did with Virgil van Dijk tonight. What Norway did with Erling Haaland and [Martin] Odegaard, starting them again. Holland also started [Nathan] Ake again.
“So it only ever seems to fall on us when there is a question around that. Of course we are disappointed if he’s got a problem. John also came in on the back of not having played for two weeks, so it is not an overload situation. But I hate sending players back to their clubs if they are not fully fit.”
Robertson’s injury while playing against Northern Ireland is potentially significant given his importance to Liverpool from his left-back position. He suffered an ankle injury after his club-mate Conor Bradley had scored the winner for Northern Ireland.
“I’m disappointed,” said Bradley. “I didn’t have the chance to speak to him but I was right behind it and it did look nasty, I think he rolled his ankle maybe or something like that. He’s massive for us, one of the best left-backs in the Premier
League for the last 10 years and he’s been such a big help to me in my career. I’ve learnt so much off him.”
Players being overworked has been an issue this season, particularly with matches regularly running into 10 minutes of stoppage time, which effectively means extra games over the course of a campaign. Raphael Varane, of Manchester United, was a strong voice in saying football needs to care more for its players.
“From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for players’ physical and mental well-being,” Varane said.
“Despite our previous feedbacks, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100 per cent to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?”
The Professional Footballers’ Association has also spoken out over workload, citing City’s Champions League triumph as their 61st match of last season, in which Kevin De Bruyne suffered an injury.
“The Champions League final is supposed to be our Super Bowl,” said PFA chief executive Maheta Molango. “It wasn’t because one of the best players in the world, De Bruyne, was out in the 30th minute. [Erling] Haaland was exhausted; Rodri, who is a top athlete, said after 60 minutes he had cramps. For us, we’ve reached a stage where it is not just about the health of the player, it is about us killing the product.”