• Klopp took aim at the Premier League and its broadcasters again on Friday, describing the scheduling as “absolutely insane” during his news conference.
• It prompted Wayne Rooney to tell the Dutchman to “get on with it” but if Liverpool feel unfairly targeted, then they may have a point.
Image: XINHUA
If there is one thing Jurgen Klopp will not miss about English football, it is the Premier League’s early kick-off slot on a Saturday.
The Liverpool boss has made no secret of his dislike for the 12.30 pm kick-off time, and referred to it in 2018 as the “breakfast” slot.
Klopp took aim at the Premier League and its broadcasters again on Friday, describing the scheduling as “absolutely insane” during his news conference.
He joked: “I was actually waiting for Amnesty International to go to them.
“I would like to be part of that meeting when someone says, ‘Liverpool 12:30’ and the whole room is bursting into laughter.”
On broadcaster TNT, which has the Saturday 12:30 slot, Klopp added: “I had a discussion only the other day with colleagues from our favourite TV channel which I will definitely not watch again, TNT...”
Klopp described his views as “a little advice from an old man on the way out”.
After the Reds’ Merseyside defeat by Everton in April, Virgil van Dijk complained that the club’s next fixture against West Ham, was given a lunchtime slot.
It prompted Wayne Rooney to tell the Dutchman to “get on with it” but if Liverpool feel unfairly targeted, then they may have a point.
Of the 331 Premier League matches that Klopp has taken charge of at Liverpool, 13.6 per cent have been given an early kick-off time — a higher percentage than any other club during his time in England.
Since Klopp took charge in October 2015, Liverpool have featured in 45 early kick-offs — more than any other Premier League club.
Manchester City (40), Tottenham (40) and Manchester United (35) have played significantly fewer early matches in that time, while Chelsea (33) and Arsenal (31) are further behind.
Liverpool’s overall Premier League win percentage under Klopp is 63% but it drops to 49% for matches played in the lunchtime slot. The Reds have won just 22 of their 45 early kick-offs, losing eight times and drawing 15.
Klopp claimed that “in the whole world we have the quickest turnaround between games”.
But he added that the “crime” of early kick-off times does not just affect his team, suggesting the Premier League’s scheduling is partly to blame for English teams’ struggles in Europe this season.
“In general I think it’s a really interesting subject. Aston Villa lost 4-2 last night for example — (it) would mean if they go out no English team will be in any kind of European final,” said Klopp.
“I watch a lot of football. The Premier League is the best league in the world so it’s not overrated, the players are over-worked.”
A common criticism of the early kick-off time is that it compromises the quality of the match. But analysis from the Athletic, shows that, in nine of the past 15 Premier League seasons, the goals scored per game in the ‘early’ kick-off slot has exceeded the average goals scored per game in the campaign as a whole. Criticism of the early kick-off slot for hindering entertainment would therefore appear largely unfounded.
What are the factors?
The Premier League has certain red lines when it comes to fixture selection and matches for broadcast.
Teams competing in the Champions League on a Wednesday night will never be selected for Saturday’s 12.30 pm slot, while teams will never be asked to play twice within 60 hours. There are further considerations to be made, including fans’ travel arrangements, broadcast slots and policing.