Groans and complaints greet a packed fixture during the festive season of the English Premier League each year. The calls for the much-vaunted winter break to be introduced TO EASE CONGESTION come soon behind. After all, what manager would rather muddle through with a bandaged-up and tired side than put out a fresh, prepared one, asks FRANCIS KELLY.
Fifty matches in 23 days. Read that again; let it sink in for a moment. Sounds like a lot, right? That’s because it is. However, this is what awaits Premier League players and fans alike, as the jam-packed festive fixture programme kicks in.
It’s enough to make supporters a giddy mess with excitement. Although you can’t blame them when there’s so much football to watch in such a short space of time. The same glee at reading the fixture list cannot be said for the managers, though, especially those battling to be number one.
It’s an understandable reaction when you consider that six out of the last seven clubs that have sat atop the table at Christmas went on to win the Premier League. This end-of-year football extravaganza may not secure you the title, but it can certainly break your chances of lifting the trophy. And so, groans and complaints greet the schedule each year at the thought of playing four or five games in a condensed period. The calls for the much-vaunted winter break to be introduced to ease congestion come soon behind. After all, what manager would rather muddle through with a bandagedup and tired side than put out a fresh, prepared one?
JURGEN KLOPP HAS ALREADY revealed his frustration at the calendar that sees his Liverpool team host Manchester City on New Year’s Eve and then play away at Sunderland 45-and-a-half hours later. Klopp has so far benefited from only competing for domestic honours this season, with Liverpool not in either the Champions League or Europa League.
Yet as injuries mount — Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Emre Can are all currently out, while Dejan Lovern is also doubtful — the thought of moving ahead of his weary competitors challenging on multiple fronts is fading away. Playing two crucial matches in such close proximity is most likely going to exasperate the issue further.
This story is from the December 24, 2016 edition of Sportstar.
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This story is from the December 24, 2016 edition of Sportstar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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