After three seasons of disruption, fixture headaches is the latest problem awaiting managers of Premier League sides.
The 2019/20 campaign saw the top-flight put on pause for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic, nearly all of 2020/21 was played without supporters in stadiums while last term saw a number of games being cancelled due to Covid cases.
This season, coaches will have a World Cup in the middle of the calendar to contend with as a large number of players head off to Qatar to represent their respective countries.
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The first official break in the campaign for international fixtures is just around the corner and is often a period football fans dread due to injuries being picked up by influential figures at their clubs. Below is a breakdown of the various pauses Liverpool and Everton will have to contend with in the 2022/23 season.
September 19 - September 27
The final group stage matches of the UEFA Nations League will be played at the end of September as Gareth Southgate's side are put through their paces for the final time ahead of the World Cup. The Three Lions are currently bottom of their Nations League group and have matches against Italy and Germany to try and turn around their current position.
November 20 - December 18
Domestic football will then come to a standstill for a month as the World Cup gets under way in late November. Everton's final fixture before the tournament comes away at Bournemouth on November 12, with those Blues not heading to Qatar then taking part in friendlies against Celtic and Western Sydney Wanderers. Liverpool's final fixture before the split comes at home to Southampton.
March 20 - March 28
Qualification games for Euro 2024 will take place during the March international break as England look to go one better than the 2020 edition. The groups are yet to be decided, with the draw set to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, on October 9. Group stage fixtures for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will also be staged.
June 12 - July 16
Competitions such as the AFC Asia Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup begin following the conclusion of the Premier League campaign, though this is not expected to affect Everton or Liverpool due to their lack of representation of players involved in the aforementioned cups.
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