Liverpool fixture truth surfaces for Jurgen Klopp after the international break
Is there anything more likely to slow down the passage of time than an international break?
Seeing your country play isn’t always the chore that it’s made out to be, especially when the World Cup is involved.
However, when international football halts the season for a fortnight, as has been the case since the implementation of FIFA’s calendar, it may be extremely frustrating.
Not least for Liverpool fans, who have seen their team claw their way back into Premier League title contention and keep prospects of an unprecedented quadruple alive.
Momentum is in danger of being stifled under Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds manager has already suspected that his club has been given a tough ride in terms of how the fixtures have been planned during international breaks. Evidence suggests he may be correct.
Klopp has supervised 25 prior international breaks while at Anfield, beginning with his debut game in charge of Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur more than five years ago.
During that period, the Reds have played 11 top-six opponents, with the remaining fixtures including two Merseyside derbies.
Indeed, Liverpool’s visit to struggling Watford next Saturday will be the eighth time in the previous 18 games following an international break that Liverpool has been the weekend’s early kick-off.
Despite concerns about how the international break might disrupt preparations and jeopardize player fitness, Liverpool have only lost one of their 25 post-break games under Klopp.
The Reds have met Tottenham four times – drawing 0-0 at White Hart Lane in Klopp’s debut match in 2015, drawing 1-1 in the rematch in 2016, and winning 2-1 both at Wembley and at home in 2018/19 – and Manchester United three times, all of which resulted in draws.
Manchester City were defeated 4-1 at the Etihad in 2015, while Liverpool’s sole setback in this run was a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s team early in 2017/18.
Even yet, Sadio Mane’s dismissal in the first half was a major factor in that defeat.
Arsenal were defeated at both the Emirates and Anfield last season, while Everton were defeated at home and drew 2-2 at Goodison Park last season.
Leicester City (twice), Newcastle United, and Southampton were all defeated at home; the Saints gained a goalless draw at home in 2016, while Liverpool won at Crystal Palace in 2018 and 2019, as well as Huddersfield Town and Watford in 2018/19.
They’ve also beaten Leeds United both at home and away, and they romped to a 5-0 triumph against Watford in October despite being lacking their South American contingent.
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Liverpool fixture truth surfaces for Jurgen Klopp after the international break
