Jurgen Klopp probably wasn't trying to have a go at Manchester City this time, but his point was clear.
"[Playing on December] 26th and 28th is absolutely impossible," the Liverpool boss said this week.
"It's a joke that they still do it. No problem to play 26th and 29th. Where's the problem, with the 28th not being a matchday. It's still the shortest of all possible breaks but fine — 26th and 28th is just not right, and we will say it all the time.
"They say that's what a squad is for, but everybody expects to win. We cannot just mix it through, there are maybe two teams when everyone is fit, but Chelsea is not fit now, City might have the squad for two games, 11 players and go through the Premier League. But other teams cannot do that. It's really tricky and that's the problem."
Klopp was complaining about Liverpool's schedule of two fixtures in three days, and his frustrations at the Christmas fixture list were echoed by other top flight managers including Pep Guardiola.
City have a slightly more forgiving schedule this year, but still face a quick turnaround between the Boxing Day clash with Leicester and the trip to Brentford on December 28.
Klopp's concerns have been eased somewhat with the postponement of their game with Leeds, but the fixture debate and welfare of players remains an ongoing complaint among top flight managers.
As for City, they know they can extend the gap over Liverpool to six points, albeit having played a game more, and if Guardiola listens to Klopp's latest comment on their squad and took it literally, he could field almost completely different starting 11s in both games.
As it happens, one or two players may have to start twice, but the strength in depth at City can be used fully this week to keep winning and extend the lead at the top of the table.
Team 1 - vs Leicester
Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Rodri are all one booking from suspension, with the cut-off for that punishment coming after the Leicester game. It would be unlikely the trio would start both Christmas games anyway, but it's not worth risking them all on Boxing Day so John Stones and Ilkay Gundogan can come in for this first hypothetical team.
If Kyle Walker isn't fully fit, then Joao Cancelo and Aleks Zinchenko can continue at full-back, with Kevin De Bruyne partnering Gundogan and the front three made up of any combination of Guardiola's versatile attackers.
Given Jack Grealish and Phil Foden were unused at Newcastle, it would make sense for them to start against Leicester.
Possible team to face Leicester: Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Jesus Grealish Foden
Team 2 - vs Brentford
Ederson is likely to start both games, but for the purposes of illustrating how many players Guardiola can utilise this week, Zack Steffen is available for rotation.
If fitness is the issue for Walker, he can be rested against Leicester and hopefully returned at Brentford. Dias can come back without the threat of a ban, and Nathan Ake has been pushing for a start so can slot in. Zinchenko and Cancelo can play 45 minutes each to give them an equal amount of rest over the two games.
Fernandinho would replace Rodri if Guardiola wants to get the maximum use of his full squad, and Bernardo can return in midfield. Like at full-back, Gundogan and De Bruyne could play 45 minutes each to share fitness.
Upfront, the three forwards who didn't face Leicester can play at Brentford, which could open up a start for Cole Palmer alongside Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez.
Possible team to face Brentford: Steffen; Walker, Dias, Ake, Zinchenko; Fernandinho, Bernardo, Gundogan; Mahrez, Sterling, Palmer.
These sides are for illustrative purposes only, and Guardiola will know which players can cope with the quick turnaround as opposed to those who need more recovery time.
However, as Klopp pointed out, City do indeed have the luxury of making up to nine changes between games to ensure the sides fielded are as fully fit as possible.
It's almost as big a fitness boost as having one of the games called off.
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