Liverpool’s game against Manchester City will be played at 12:30 pm on a Saturday right after the November international break.
It means the Reds will play all three of their games after international fixtures in the same timeslot, following the fixture against Wolves last month and the Merseyside derby next weekend.
The Times journalist Paul Joyce has revealed that will take the total of 12:30 kickoffs to 14 since Jurgen Klopp took charge in 2015, which is 8 more than any other Premier League club. That has, unsurprisingly, fueled anger among fans on X, who feel that the scheduling has been unfair to the Reds:
This is no longer a joke! Why must it be LFC to be picked for the 12.30 kick-off
— Richie (@rickky01) October 13, 2023
Disgraceful
— Harry🇪🇺 (@Ifcharry) October 13, 2023
Genuine shambles
— David Heaton (@heatondavid) October 13, 2023
Scandalous
— Luke Cardwell (@LRCardwell) October 13, 2023
They always do it against us, a true joke.
— Vimarq 🇾🇪 ʸⁿʷᵃ CAMPEÃO DE TUDO (@Vimarq1) October 13, 2023
Ridiculous
— Hannah (@HannahLFCx) October 13, 2023
We literally have the most South American players in the league too 😭😭
— Zac (@KopiteZac) October 13, 2023
Liverpool are right to feel aggrieved
While there is no point getting involved in any conspiracy theories, the fact is the Reds are getting a very raw deal. With players flying in from all around the world after international duty, playing at Saturday lunchtime gives the squad very little time to recover and prepare for their game.
To have it happen three times in a row during the same season, with 2 of those being extremely high-profile fixtures, makes it all the more difficult to swallow.
The Reds’ opponents do face the same issue
Of course, you do have to point out that both Everton and Manchester City face the same conditions, which does level the playing field.
Still, having to play away at the Etihad with such little preparation time is setting Jurgen Klopp‘s side up for a fall.
