The Football Association have taken aim at Jurgen Klopp over his comments regarding Liverpool's forthcoming FA Cup fourth round replay.
Klopp has vowed both he and his senior players will not be in attendance for the Anfield clash with Shrewsbury Town, provisionally scheduled for next midweek.
The tie is expected to take place during the period already set aside for Liverpool's winter break, a new initiative introduced by the Premier League this season.
Klopp is unhappy the demands of the FA calendar are at odds with the insistence of the top-flight authorities not to arrange games during the pause.
But the governing body have claimed the European and world champions, who are 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand, accepted before the season this situation could arise, with Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton in a similar position.
An FA statement read:"The FA went to great lengths to create an annual mid-season player break, working closely with the Premier League and its clubs.
"It is a new and significant addition to the English football calendar and is designed to benefit clubs and their players.
"This allowed the Premier League room in its calendar to have a split round of fixtures over two weekends.
"Prior to start of the 2019/20 season, all clubs accepted that Emirates FA Cup fourth round replays, where required, would have to take place during the first week of the mid-season player break.
"This will only affect a small number of clubs due to the split of Premier League fixtures in the mid-season player break."
Klopp has the backing of Liverpool owners FSG who have been involved in the decision to not make senior players available for the fourth round replay, the additional game required after the Reds were held to a 2-2 draw at League One side Shrewsbury on Sunday.
The Premier League, meanwhile, says it can only have influence over the schedule of its own competition.
