Sunderland will take on Liverpool at the Stadium of Light on 2nd January, kicking off at 3pm.
Liverpool have failed in their attempts to get their kick-off time with Sunderland changed, according to a report in The Guardian.
The Reds are due to travel to the Stadium of Light on 2nd January with the game kicking off at 3pm – meaning they will play two games in the space of 46 hours as they host Manchester City at Anfield on New Year’s Eve at 5:30 pm.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was visibly displeased at the scheduling when the television companies announced their fixtures, saying at the time: “Forty-eight hours is an interesting idea but less than 48 hours I cannot believe,” said Klopp at the time. The Liverpool manager added: “Forty-eight hours between two games – how does this work? How do you prepare a team for this? Do you say ‘Only 50% against City because we have Sunderland on Monday’. It doesn’t sound like it is right.”
The Guardian reported that Liverpool’s request to the Premier League was more in hope than expectation as they tried to get a kick-off time moved to later on in the day.
Sunderland also play on New Year’s Eve but kick off against Burnley at Turf Moor at 3pm, while Liverpool’s title rivals Manchester City have exactly the same turnaround as the Reds, and they face Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp
Klopp is not the first manager to complain about scheduling over fixtures, as the festive season is notoriously busy and demanding for the players.
It’s easy to see what his thinking is as he doesn’t want any of his players to pick up injuries during a key stage of the season, and nor does he want to play a match so soon after one that’s likely to be high in its intensity when he faces Pep Guardiola’s side.
It’s a challenge for Klopp, but other managers across the league – like David Moyes with Sunderland – have their challenges when it comes to managing their squads during this period.
Sunderland manager David Moyes before the game
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