LIVERPOOL, England (AP) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has expressed his frustration at his team having to play two Premier League matches inside 48 hours over the holiday period, suggesting such fixture congestion is to blame for England’s poor results at major tournaments.
Liverpool is scheduled to play Manchester City at 5.30 p.m. local time on Dec. 31 and then Sunderland away at 3 p.m. on Jan 2.
Klopp said he “cannot believe” the schedule, adding at a news conference: “Forty-eight hours between two games - how does this work? And then you will sit there and say, ’You didn’t perform too well, how did this happen?’ or ’Injuries. Oh?’”
England is the only big league in Europe not to have a winter break.
Klopp says “everyone is asking, ’Why England is not too successful in big tournaments?’ Ask what other big countries are doing at this time. They have their legs on the sofa and are watching English football.”
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