Jurgen Klopp suspicions justified but Liverpool have shown right Premier League response
Liverpool’s record after an international break faces its latest test at Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday
After a strong start to the campaign for his new-look side, the Liverpool boss has seen momentum checked and instead had to watch with fingers crossed as his players dispersed across the globe to represent their countries.
Klopp will find out more about the fitness levels of each player when the squad reconvenes at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday to begin preparations for the 12.30pm kick-off at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
The Reds boss has previously suspected his team have been given a bit of a rough ride when it comes to how fixtures have been scheduled post-international breaks. Evidence suggests he may have a point.
Starting with his very first game in charge of Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur almost eight years ago, Klopp has overseen 29 previous international breaks while at Anfield. During that time, the Reds have faced top-six rivals on 13 occasions, while the remaining fixtures have included two Merseyside derbies.
Eleven of those games have been the early Saturday kick-off, with this weekend meaning Liverpool have featured in four of the last six such matches post-international break.
But for all the concerns over how the international break can disrupt preparations and threaten the fitness of players, Liverpool have lost only three of their 29 post-break fixtures under Klopp – all of them at Manchester City.
The Reds have played Tottenham four times – drawing 0-0 at White Hart Lane in Klopp’s debut clash in 2015, being held 1-1 in the return in 2016, and winning 2-1 both at Wembley and at home in 2018/19 – and Manchester United three times, all of which ended in a stalemate.
Manchester City were beaten 4-1 at the Etihad in 2015, while Liverpool’s first defeat in this sequence was the 5-0 thrashing to Pep Guardiola’s side early in 2017/18. Even then, that loss owed much to Sadio Mane being dismissed in the first half. Arsenal were defeated at both the Emirates and Anfield in 2021, while Everton were beaten at home in 2017 and three years ago saw a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.
Of the rest, Leicester City (twice), Newcastle United and Southampton were beaten at home, the Saints earned a goalless home draw in 2016, while Liverpool won at Crystal Palace in 2018 and 2019 and at Huddersfield Town in 2018/19. They have also beaten Leeds United home and away, while they have won twice away and once at home to Watford, and drew at home to Brighton 3-3 last season.
Their most recent two post-international break games have been at Man City. They lost 3-2 in the Carabao Cup after the World Cup shortly before Christmas, and were thumped 4-1 back in April.
As was demonstrated in the dismal 3-0 reverse at Molineux back in February, a trip to Wolves is never easy. But Klopp’s Liverpool have long shown they can get back up to speed quickly after an international break.
