After a shock defeat to Nottingham Forest at home, Liverpool returned to form in resounding fashion earlier in the week.
The Reds beat their favourite European rivals AC Milan in a sensational come-from-behind performance to kick off their new Champions League campaign.
After collecting plaudits for his first UCL outing with the club, Arne Slot was asked to address one quintessential aspect of English football that is becoming more and more a matter of concern.
Arne Slot addresses “busy” English schedule ahead of Brentford game
Ahead of his side’s weekend Premier League game against Bournemouth, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot discussed, among other things, the hectic nature of the English football calendar.
“I don’t know if you know but in Holland we also have Eredivisie so we also play games in the weekends! We also play Champions League or Europa League so we also play during the week. There’s only one difference and that’s the upcoming week when we play the League Cup. So until now I haven’t seen anything different than what I was used to at my former clubs. But the Premier League has four extra games compared to Eredivisie and the League Cup. That’s the main difference. But from the start until now I think we’ve played just as many games as my former club. So that’s not an issue for me.
“But the main difference between the Premier League and every other league in Europe is that we have to play during Christmas and New Year. I think at those moments that’s the biggest difference between this league and all the other leagues. AC Milan has to play the weekend, they had to play on Tuesday and they will play during the weekend also again. But that’s probably what you mean, the strength of the league, the quality of the league. The quality of Nottingham Forest or Bournemouth is much, much higher than if you play an Eredivisie game against a team that doesn’t play for the top six positions, so this is where it makes a difference.“
Slot, as quoted by Liverpool’s in-house media team.
The discussion regarding the congested fixture scheduled has reignited with the return of the Champions League, with many high-profile player having come out against it this week, some of them suggesting a strike in the near future.
Liverpool welcome Bournemouth at home on Saturday before facing West Ham at Anfield next midweek for the Carabao Cup.
It will only get worse
Slot’s schedule is not going to get any easier, not unless he fails to reach the targets Liverpool would want him to.
The resuscitated discussion regarding fixture congestion will keep popping up until something is actually done.
More Liverpool News:
- Fabrizio Romano praises Liverpool’s impressive win at San Siro
- Liverpool want £67m star who rejected Manchester United
- Pundit shocks fans by choosing this winger over Liverpool legend
And something may not actually be done until the sport is threatened to be forced into a standstill once more…
