The Premier League must take note after Jürgen Klopp’s fear comes true ahead of Liverpool’s exit

It will be an emotional farewell at Anfield next weekend as Liverpool and the Premier League say goodbye to Jürgen Klopp. The German’s nine-year tenure will come to an end after the final day clash with Wolves and there is no doubt he will look back on his time with great fondness.

But there is one thing about English football that Klopp won’t miss – the 12.30pm kick-off. His displeasure is justified, with Liverpool playing more games (45) in the early slot on Saturday than any other team.

Only eight of those have ended in defeat, but that hasn’t stopped Klopp tipping off TNT Sports, who regularly monitor those lunchtime fixtures, recently. He believes the broadcaster and the Premier League are responsible for the struggles of English teams in Europe this season.

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After Aston Villa’s first leg defeat by Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League, Klopp said: “It’s interesting to see Villa lose last night. Does this mean no English team in a European final? The Premier League is the best in the world, but someone has to help the players.

“Years ago we had four English teams in the (European) quarter-finals, then we take that and say, ‘It’s Premier League quality’ and let’s do more, but you have to change that approach. People can survive without Match Days every now and then City, Arsenal, us in the quarter-finals and that’s not a reflection of quality.

“It’s a general problem. They dare Thursday-Sunday, Wednesday-Saturday, 12:30, it’s a crime. I was waiting for Amnesty International to go to them.”

While Klopp’s suggestion of intervention may be a little dramatic, his fears were confirmed after Villa were beaten 2-0 in Greece in the second leg. That means it is only the second time in Liverpool’s nine years in charge that an English team has failed to reach the final of a major European competition.

It’s a record, but the demands on players are now greater than ever. Liverpool will end this campaign having played an astonishing 58 games in all competitions, and that should have been more had they progressed to the Europa League.

Other countries have benefited from moving matches before and after European matches, but there is no indication that the Premier League will follow suit due to the importance of its TV deals. Unfortunately, this takes precedence over successes on the continent and ultimately the well-being of the players.

Villa will be hoping to bounce back against the Reds on Monday night, needing a win to secure their place in next season’s Champions League. Unai Emery deserves a lot of credit for that and his side could meet Liverpool, and possibly Arne Slot, in the group stage of the competition.

Slot will be hoping to be given slightly more favorable treatment than his successor when it comes to fixture scheduling and you’d suspect Klopp will still be keeping a close eye.