Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has called it a “crime” that Manchester United have been scheduled to play three Premier League games in five days.
United and Liverpool were originally due to meet on May 2, but the game was postponed due to fan protests both inside and outside of Old Trafford on the day.
The fixture was rescheduled to Thursday – 48 hours after United’s game against Leicester.
The clash against the Foxes in itself was also just 48 hours after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s side took on Aston Villa.
In addition, the Red Devils travelled to Italy to take on Roma in their Europa League semi-final second leg last Thursday.
The Norwegian made 10 changes against Leicester, which United lost 2-1. Mason Greenwood was the only player to keep his place.
Klopp has said that he would have done the same had Liverpool been in the situation that United are currently in.
He said: “It was the line-up I expected.
“To play Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday is a crime, and that is not the fault of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the players.
“So my question was to myself, would I have done the same? Yes, you have to.
“You have to. We are late in the season, all the players have a lot of games, United went to the Europa League final.
“That means an awful lot of games and now you get Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday. That’s not possible.”
Liverpool’s run-in
Thursday’s clash with United is the first of four crunch fixtures for Liverpool as they attempt to get into the Champions League places.
Qualification for the competition, however, is out of the Reds’ hands – a win over United would put them fifth on 60 points.
Chelsea are above them in fourth on 64 points, whilst Leicester are on 66 points. The Foxes will have played a game more than Liverpool by the end of Thursday.
Klopp’s side then travel to West Bromwich Albion and Burnley, before ending the season against Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Liverpool City Council’s safety advisory group has approved the return of 10,000 fans for the fixture.
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