Jurgen Klopp has been a regular advocate of football’s governing bodies making a greater collective effort in prioritising the general protection of its players.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool FC at Molineux on January 23, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
The FIFA Coach of the Year hasn’t kept his voice to himself after recently describing the decision to switch the Africa Cup of Nations back to January as a “catastrophe” for Liverpool as he reiterated his players are being asked to play too much football.
However, there have been small steps made this season after the Premier League announced it’s inaugural winter break for the 2019/20 season. It will last a fortnight and commences on February 1, hours after Liverpool’s home clash with Southampton.
Klopp’s team have played 14 matches in just over a month in their pursuit of domestic and European glory. The Champions League-holders have three upcoming matches in the space of six days – the first of which will take place at Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup fourth-round on Sunday.
Liverpool have already featured in 35 matches accross seven competitions over the course of this season. Despite having the best part of two weeks off during the winter break, the Reds will still have played five matches across the league and Europe by the end of February.
One of those matches is the European champions’ last-16 clash against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, February 18. Liverpool have never lost a two-legged knockout tie under Klopp and will have their sights set on a third consecutive Champions League final.
Undoubtedly, injuries have taken their toll during the winter billing. Over the festive period, Liverpool have seen the likes of Fabinho, Dejan Lovren, Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita all make the trip to the Melwood treatment room over Christmas.
Klopp has had to entrust a huge amount of responsibility on his young players in both domestic cups this season – the German manager was even forced to recall central defender Nathanial Phillips from his loan spell with Stuttgart just to feature once for the Reds before being loaned back to Germany.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Sadio Mane of Liverpool sits injured on the floor during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool FC at Molineux on January 23, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
Sadio Mane was the latest victim to feel the strain following a ludicrous amount of matches congested into such a small time frame. The Senegalese ace went down at Molineux clutching his leg following a hamstring injury sustained in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory against Wolves.
The Reds have been boosted by the recent return of Fabinho, Lovren and Joel Matip. The Reds trio are all expected to feature against the Shrews on Sunday.
By the time the winter break finally arrives for Klopp and his team, Liverpool will have already played a full Premier League season’s worth of fixtures. The Reds boss will have undoubtedly have wanted more time for his players to refresh and recuperate but in an era which demands football practically every day of the week, at least it’s a start.