Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants to see the fitness of his South American side after the World Cup qualifiers ahead of their Premier League trip to Wolves.
The list is almost like a series of horror shows that highlighted why Liverpool are preparing for their first Europa League appearance in over seven years.
A worrying 2:2 draw for Fulham. Poor 0-0 stalemate at Everton. A terrible defeat at Nottingham Forest. Another miserable goalless draw at home to Chelsea. Shock defeat at Bournemouth. And 4:1 humiliation for the champion-elect Manchester City.
As well as the six results – three draws, three losses – marking the full point of a torrid campaign, they also have one thing in common. It all started at 12:30, Jurgen Klopp’s least favorite time for Premier League games.
The latest defeat to City also saw another criticism from Klopp that it was an early game after the national team break.
A situation Liverpool found themselves in again on Saturday as they continue their campaign at Wolves. Liverpool’s early problems last season are all the more strange given that they won all five such matches without a win in the previous campaign.
But Klopp’s bigger concern this time around is the international commitments of most of his squad, some of whom are likely to return to Merseyside just two days before kick-off at Molineux. Fingers crossed, not only in the hope that players avoid injury, but also to ensure that fatigue and jet lag don’t become an issue.
“Guys are flying around the world at the moment, which is terrible,” Klopp said earlier this month. – Almost 48 hours after the South Americans played somewhere on the other side of the world, we play Wolverhampton Wanderers. It’s going to be tough, so we have to make sure we’re ready and give it.”
Although Liverpool’s South American squad is not as big following the summer departures of Fabinho and Roberto Firmino, there are still four players – Alisson Becker, Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez – who are expected to be the latest arrivals. in the AXA training center after the World Cup qualifiers.
That all four started in the 3-0 Premier League win against Aston Villa last time out, with Nunez starting all four games so far this season, underlines their importance to a Reds side who have started the season strongly with 10 points from 12 .
Regardless of the number of minutes played, all four will take part in overseas trips for their countries late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning – Mac Allister guarded Argentina in Bolivia, Nunez with Uruguay in Ecuador, Brazil’s Alisson in Peru and Diaz with Colombia in Chile.
Diaz has the longest journey back to Merseyside, some 7,200 miles. Alisson has 6,250 miles, while Mac Allister has just a handful less. Nunez’s distance is relatively short at 5,600 miles.
Not for the first time, Klopp’s biggest concern is the state of his South American squad returning to Merseyside. The clock is already ticking.
