The Premier League and its match scheduling this season have not been kind to Liverpool.
From numerous early kick-offs after international breaks, to playing on Saturday after midweek cup games – Jurgen Klopp has been less than impressed.
With the growing number of games teams are expected to play every season, proper recovery and match scheduling is of paramount importance.
However, West Ham United manager David Moyes have criticised the scheduling of the Premier League.
It meant that his African Cup of Nations players missed the Hammers’ 0-0 draw against Brighton on Tuesday evening.
Clubs were required to ‘release’ their AFCON players ahead of the tournament in The Ivory Coast.
This meant that David Moyes was without Mohammed Kudus and Nayef Aguerd for their game against the Seagulls.
What did David Moyes say about Premier League match scheduling?
Speaking post-match, Moyes made his dissatisfaction at the situation known, while lamenting the fact that Salah could play before leaving for AFCON:
“For some reason we weren’t allowed to play our players when Salah played for Liverpool last night,” the Scottish manager began via The Mirror.
“It feels a bit strange that we’re playing on January 2.”
“Could we not have played on the 1st so our African players would be allowed to play as well?”
“I feel that’s something which isn’t correct.”
“I just think why couldn’t we have our African players the same as everybody else?”
“I don’t see at this point why you would play a game and be disadvantaged by some of your players not being able to play.”
David Moyes raises a fair point and highlights just how big of an impact match scheduling can have on a team’s fortunes.
However, Liverpool have had their fair share of issues with the fixture schedule this season, as previously mentioned.
Therefore, Moyes and the Hammers will just have to grin and bear it like the Reds have been doing all season.