Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has spoke up for West Ham United and David Moyes after some really unfair Premier League fixture scheduling.
West Ham manager David Moyes came head to head with Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp in the Carabao Cup in midweek, but the focus was back on the Premier League yesterday.
The Hammers manager was battered by the fans on Wednesday, after naming a really weakened starting XI for the cup clash with the Reds at Anfield.
However, the Scot was somewhat justified after yesterday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United at the London Stadium.
Liverpool were in action as well, drawing 1-1 with Arsenal at Anfield, although their game did kick off five hours later than ours.
And Klopp leaped to the defence of Moyes and West Ham, after the ridiculous fixture scheduling we’ve been on the end of during the Christmas period…
Jurgen Klopp defends David Moyes and West Ham
Klopp was speaking to reporters on Friday ahead of his side’s clash with Arsenal yesterday afternoon.
And the Liverpool boss offered words of support for the Hammers, as quoted by the Guardian:
“I saw that West Ham play the 12.30 tomorrow. You have to ask the question: is that right? You’re playing a competition where each team should get the same treatment. People think it’s all right to put West Ham in that game and criticise David Moyes in the week when he makes changes [against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup]. What was his alternative? We have to make changes otherwise you cannot get through this.”
Klopp went on to say:
“We play at 5.30pm tomorrow – that means the boys sleep longer. West Ham get up at 7.30 and at 9 they throw in the noodles! How is that fair? Why can’t they look at that, whoever is doing it? For once, put your [club] shirt away and just think about general football problems. Somebody has to change. They say: ‘Well yes but you signed the [broadcasting] contract.’ It has nothing to do with that.”
The German is spot on. West Ham have played eight games in the last 24 days, and have two more to come over the course of the next eight days.
There was absolutely no need for us to play in the 12:30 kick-off yesterday. We won the match in the end, so it will all be forgotten about now, but it really shouldn’t be.
It’s little wonder why so many players are dropping with soft tissue injuries this season, like hamstrings for example. Fatigue is a very real problem that leads to a build-up of injuries in the end, and there has to come a point where player welfare is taken more seriously.
Jurgen Klopp was bang on the money when he defended West Ham to reporters. Whether the Premier League stand up and take notice remains to be seen though.
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