Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is taking a stand for players in England and calling for an overhaul of the Premier League holiday fixture line up due to the overwhelming pressure it is putting on players.
Klopp is just one of many managers who have come out condemning the December holiday fixture lineup and the challenges it presents for both players and teams.
Liverpool join teams such as Tottenham Spurs and Manchester United who are now dealing with the cost of the hectic holiday lineup they have just endured as the Premier League resumes in 2020.
As it stands 74 players were injured between 21 December – 2 January.
Newcastle were the worst hit with 9 injuries sustained over the holiday period followed by AFC Bournemouth with 6 injuries then Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Tottenham all suffering 5 injuries each.
Liverpool find themselves left with just 12 fit senior players available while teams such as Newcastle have been decimated to having only one out of six central defenders s still fit enough to play.
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Aston Villa are one of the hardest-hit teams from the holiday period carnage racking up almost 500 days that will be missed by players due to injuries sustained. Arsenal follows with just over 250 days.
Tom Heaton and Wesley who were injured during Aston Villa’s holiday fixtures rack up an estimated 482 days to be missed by the pair combined based on the magnitude of their injuries.
Wolves manager Nuno Espírito Santo came out saying:
“I’ve never seen a situation like playing games against tough teams with 45 hours between games,”
“It’s going to be very tough. Of course, it goes against everything – it’s absurd. There’s no explanation.”
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His outrage at the holiday fixture layout was also supported by Jurgen Klopp who came out saying:
“None of us managers have a problem with Boxing Day [fixtures], none of us,”
“But playing on the 26th and 28th is a crime. It is absolutely not OK and we still have it.”