Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has decided to end his public crusade against fixture congestion because he believes his words are not being heeded by the authorities.
Klopp has repeatedly grumbled about the volume of fixtures that his side are expected to complete this season, with Champions League action in six weeks out of eight – the other two being reserved for internationals – causing a remarkable strain on his squad.
The former Dortmund boss has generated more headlines than positive reaction from authorities, and ahead of a clash away to Brighton on Saturday, he said he is resigned to the pile up of matches.
The Reds were last in action on Wednesday, when they lost 2-0 to Atalanta at home in the Champions League, and they are expected to play Saturday’s early Premier League kick off – giving them barely 60 hours between fixtures.
“My thoughts about this are clear,” Klopp said. “It's not the time to think about it now. I have to prepare for it. It looks like it will be midweek, Saturday games for us until the end of the year.
“Whatever I say doesn't help, so I’ll stop talking. It's just a waste of time.
“The last thing I want is to create a headline but you say I've given up. I speak in a general way about a general problem.
“In this moment we play in 25 hours and I have to prepare a team. Why we play Wednesday then Saturday at 12.30, you have to ask other people why they do that. I don't have the answer.”
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Klopp’s side are presently riddled with injuries to high-profile players such as Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander Arnold.
He admitted that there has been little movement on that front.
“Jordan Henderson trained yesterday and had part of an individual session,” he said. “All the other players are still in recovery.
“There are only a few days in between matches, so we’re making late decisions. If you asked me for the line up, I couldn’t tell you. I have to wait for the medical department to tell me.”
Liverpool, who are second in the Premier League, will play nine fixtures before the end of the year, with Ajax at home in the Champions League next up for the Anfield side after Brighton.
Virgil van Dijk 
Trent Alexander-Arnold 
Jordan Henderson 
Liverpool 
