Liverpool

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold hits out at football schedule

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 28 November 2020

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold criticises the current football schedule, reiterating calls from managers that it is too demanding on players.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has called for more common sense from football authorities after a relentless start to the season.

With matches for club and country needing to be played during a shorter period, more injuries have occurred, including for Alexander-Arnold, who is currently sidelined with a calf injury.

Some managers want five substitutions to be allowed in the Premier League, while others have asked for more consideration with regards to fixture selection after international matches.

During a season which will already be extended due to Euro 2020, Alexander-Arnold has called for "something to change" over the coming weeks in a bid to help reduce fitness issues.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, the right-back said: "At a time when we've had a three month lockdown, coming back and not being able to get fully fit as we would like to and having to play the remainder of the games, and then not getting much of a break, I think we got two weeks and then a 10-day pre-season, and then straight back into the most competitive league in the world, it's difficult.

"The times of games, in terms of your last internationals coming back, defies common sense really. Anyone with common sense would spot that that is something that cannot happen.

"There is not enough time to recover, your body cannot recover that quickly. Your muscles are going into it not being 100% and that is how you pick up injuries. Something has to change."

Having played Atalanta BC on Wednesday night, Liverpool are back in action against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon.