Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has warned both UEFA and FIFA to “be careful” ahead of an unprecedentedly busy 2022/23 campaign.
Players are currently returning for pre-season ahead of what is going to be an extremely hectic campaign. The calendar has been condensed considerably in order to accommodate the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The tournament is set to be held during November and December, with the Premier League set to return for its traditional Boxing Day slot. Meanwhile, there are also major changes to the Champions League with the group stage of this season’s edition set to be shoehorned into nine-week slot as opposed to the regular 13.
Ahead of Liverpool ’s first pre-season clash against Manchester United in Thailand, Klopp has expressed his concern at the extraordinarily quick turnover and has appealed to each of the governing bodies to find a solution that could alleviate players’ exhaustion.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the German said: "Uefa and Fifa have to be careful with what they both really want. If you have tired players in tournaments, you don't have high quality.
"And the Premier League has to think as well. One week, you become world champion, for example, England, hopefully. And then one week later, on Boxing Day everybody expects you to be ready again. That never happened before in the history of football.
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"Usually after every tournament you have a long a break. This time you play again one week [later]. Madness. People tell me I'm a moaner or whatever, but everyone knows it is not perfect.
"For some, there will be a pre-season for the long second part of the season, which is good. But the more players who are involved [in Qatar] it would be outstanding. How can you plan for that? It has never happened before.”
Measures have of course already been put into place with the introduction of five substitutes within English football. Klopp has admitted that is the correct decision but has suggested that players need more holiday time in order to stave off the threat of any serious injuries or other consequences.
He continued: "I have said it so often, and obviously nobody really listens, we have to make sure that we give the boys enough time to rest. Now we have five substitutes, which is absolutely crucial and great news.
"But we have to give the players rest so they can be the players they are able to be, not the players who are left because of the intensity."
Following their pre-season clash with Man United, Liverpool continue their schedule with games to come against Crystal Palace, RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg before the Community Shield showdown with Manchester City at the King Power Stadium.
