The festive fixture list is always a gruelling one for Premier League clubs. Without a winter break, all sides face a tough run-in when they have games sandwiched between Christmas and New Year, typically playing a game every three days.
It's regularly referred to as a real turning point in the season, with so many instances where teams have fell off the horse when the tough Christmas fixture list comes around.
Liverpool have been hit with a nightmare run-in these year, which the club remain absolutely furious about.
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It starts off with a home game against Stoke City on 27th December, which isn't all that bad given how deadly the Reds have been at home this season. Then there's the small matter of a visit from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on New Years Eve and then it all finishes with an away trip to bottom club Sunderland.
One might think that's a fairly standard Premier League fixture list but the issue that Liverpool are fuming over is the fact that they play City at 5:30pm on New Years Eve in the televised fixture, but their game with Sunderland on 2 January is a 3pm kick-off. That means two games in 44 hours, which is unheard of even in the Premier League.
It's worth noting that Manchester City face the same issue, as they host Burnley at the same time when Liverpool play Sunderland.
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When Jurgen Klopp was informed of the changes to the schedule, he was understandably not happy.
"We have less than 48 hours between our game against Man City on December 31 and in Sunderland on the second. Forty-eight hours is an interesting idea, but less than 48 hours, I cannot believe."
Liverpool lodged an appeal to change the demanding placement of fixtures but it was refuted by the Premier League.
Not an ideal situation for the table-toppers.
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(h/t The Mirror)
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, Liverpool, LFC