Jürgen Klopp Questions Date of Rescheduled Match Against Manchester United

Following Liverpool’s victory over Southampton on Sunday, attention turns to Manchester United on Thursday for the Reds—the derby that had to be rescheduled due to United fan protests and that will be United’s third game in just five days.

Liverpool’s opponents play Aston Villa today, Leicester City on Tuesday, and then face their historic rivals. It’s a situation that could lead to rotation and benefit the Reds, but manager Jürgen Klopp still can’t help wondering if it was the best solution.

“We have cup competitions and we have games and games and games, so we rotate and people always think we don’t respect the competition,” Klopp noted. “I know there were not proper solutions, but I think there could be a better situation.

“So [they have] three games in five days but then a weekend off, so it looks like there could have been a window where we could have done something slightly different. But it is a decision and I understand that. We will see what we make of that.”

Liverpool’s top four hopes remain a long shot, and even if they can beat United on Thursday and win all of their three remaining games afterwards they will need the clubs that they’re chasing—Leicester and Chelsea—to drop points in their games.

By the end of that match on Thursday, then, with their opponents having played Leicester two days earlier, the picture could be a lot clearer. Any faint hope they do have of making it back into the Champions League, though, will require a win.

“We have a tough programme ourselves because of that because now we play the last four games in a very short period of time,” the Liverpool manager added. “That’s how it is and we will see what we can make. We have to win football games.

“if we win all four it could be enough. I didn’t really think it through, to be honest, but winning four games is pretty much the only chance we have, so that’s what we should try. It will be difficult but we will try it anyway.”