New Year Fixtures

[jon545660]

The appeal to move our new years kickoff time has been rejected, which means:
All of the current top 6 have a 2 day gap between games, apart from Chelsea who have a 3 day gap.

1. Liverpool - 2 days
2. Chelsea - 3 days
3. Man City - 2 days
4. Arsenal - 2 days
5. Spurs - 2 days
6. Man U - 2 days

31st Dec
Chelsea (home to Stoke) 15.00
Man U (home to Boro) 15.00
Liverpool v City 17.30

1st Jan
Spurs (away at Watford) 13.30
Arsenal (home to Palace) 16.00

2nd Jan
City (home to Burnley) 15.00
Liverpool (away at Sunderland) 15.00
Man U (away at West Ham) 17.15

3rd Jan
Arsenal (away at Bournemouth) 19.45
Spurs v Chelsea 20:00

Liverpool, City and Man U actually have slightly less than 48 hours if that makes a difference.
Arsenal and Man u are the only ones not playing another top 6 team.

For those that pay attention to the squads of our rivals, how does our strength in depth compare? Which teams are more likely to come out better (apart from the obvious advantage Chelsea have)?

 

[Modo]

Liverpool fail in bid to avoid playing two matches in under 46 hours
• Liverpool face Manchester City and Sunderland in New Year period
• Premier League refuse club’s request to move Sunderland match back

Andy Hunter
Wednesday 16 November 2016 13.16 GMTLast modified on Wednesday 16 November 2016 13.47 GMT

Liverpool will play two matches in under 46 hours over the New Year period after their request for a late kick-off at Sunderland was rejected by the Premier League.

The Premier League leaders had asked to delay their scheduled 3pm kick-off at the Stadium of Light on 2 January after Manchester City’s visit to Anfield on New Year’s Eve was switched to 5.30pm. Jürgen Klopp expressed incredulity when the fixture list was revised at having to kick off 45 and a half hours after the potential top-of-the-table contest, and the club contacted the Premier League over the possibility of starting late at Sunderland.

Liverpool’s request was more in hope than expectation and they have been informed the game against David Moyes’s struggling side will take place at 3pm as planned.

The Premier League, while reluctant to explain kick-off times on a case-by-case basis, are understood to have several reasons for their decision. Aside from the festive period being a notoriously demanding time and all clubs signing up to the lucrative broadcasting deal – Liverpool’s match against City was moved by BT Sport – the Premier League believe it would set an unwanted precedent to grant one club’s request for a different kick-off time and, in theory, hand them a competitive advantage over others.

Pep Guardiola’s team must also kick-off 45 and a half hours after their game starts at Anfield, although travel will be less of an issue as City are at home to Burnley on 2 January. Liverpool’s trip to the Stadium of Light is Sunderland’s only home fixture over the festive period, with Moyes’s men away at Manchester United on Boxing Day and Burnley on New Year’s Eve. Avoiding disruption for their supporters, therefore, may also have been a factor.

Liverpool could argue the same consideration has not been extended to their supporters as, aside from the late kick-off on New Year’s Eve, the home game against Stoke City was moved from Boxing Day to 27 December for broadcasting purposes.

“Forty-eight hours is an interesting idea but less than 48 hours I cannot believe,” said Klopp at the time. The Liverpool manager added: “Forty-eight hours between two games – how does this work? How do you prepare a team for this? Do you say: ‘Only 50% against City because we have Sunderland on Monday.’ It doesn’t sound like it is right.

“Everyone is asking: ‘Why is England not too successful in big tournaments?’ Ask what other big countries are doing at this time of year – they have their legs on the sofa and are watching English football.”

 

[Modo]

Your thread is better....

 

[Modo]

I can understand the decision but still, the FA needs to do something about the fixture pile up during that time of the year.

I think that this time around we're a bit lucky since our 2nd game is against a poor Sunderland side. I mean it could be a lot worse.

Also, Sunderland will have the same disadvantage. At least we have a big squad with a lot more quality than they have.

It's a lot worse for Chelsea who have to play Spurs away.

 

[jon545660]

Your thread is better....

It was also an excuse to post the league table again.

 

[rurikbird]

The only possible solution for us is to play the 2nd team (like we do for early cup games) against Sunderland and hope it will be enough. No player should start 2 games in under 48 hours, that's just unsafe.

 

[Modo]

The only possible solution for us is to play the 2nd team (like we do for early cup games) against Sunderland and hope it will be enough. No player should start 2 games in under 48 hours.

Especially after playing the likes of Man C.
I do however expect Klopp to rotate, some player have to play both fixtures, and they probably can depending on their fitness levels after the first game.
I'm thinking Clyne, Matip, Lovren and Karius.
Some might be subbed midway.

 

[mark1975]

We've got a fair few Duracell Bunnies out there though in Milner, Henderson, Clyne - players who will just play and play. In reserve we've got plenty of fresh legs that can come in. We can switch around Can and Wijaldum, we have Sturridge and Origi to swap in for one or two of the front three, we can risk Moreno at left back, Klavan or Lucas at centre half, etc. We've got plenty in the tank, all being well.

 

[Hansern]

They rejected our appeal cause it could set a dangerous presedent, changing the fixture date for one team.

Yeah, why bother with the players health. Fucking clueless morons.

 

[Mystic]

It's an obscene schedule, hopefully our B team is strong enough for Sunderland.

 

[Woland]

The only consolation is we'll already be eight points clear by then

 

[Fabio]

We've got a fair few Duracell Bunnies out there though in Milner, Henderson, Clyne - players who will just play and play. In reserve we've got plenty of fresh legs that can come in. We can switch around Can and Wijaldum, we have Sturridge and Origi to swap in for one or two of the front three, we can risk Moreno at left back, Klavan or Lucas at centre half, etc. We've got plenty in the tank, all being well.

It could also be a fantastic opportunity to give some of the youth a game

Maybe by then Ejaria, Alexander-Arnold, ojo, and maybe a cheeky couple of minutes to any other impressive youth

Hopefully ejaria and A-A will have more first team minutes under their belt by then and become squad regulars.