Premier League respond to Liverpool amid Jurgen Klopp’s Newcastle United complaints

The Premier League has turned down Liverpool’s request to have their kick-off time with Newcastle United moved.

Jurgen Klopp’s men travel to St James’ Park on Saturday, April 30 for a 12:30pm kick-off in front of the BT cameras.

The fixture falls in between their two-legged Champions League semi-final with Villarreal and the early kick-off time has angered Klopp.

He wanted the game moved to 7:45pm so it gave his side extra time to recover. The German also claimed the TV schedule is impacting his side’s quadruple chances.

However, according to the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool’s request has been dismissed by the Premier League.

What Jurgen Klopp said

Ranting about the matter last week, Klopp said: “If you want to cause us problems you send us to 12:30 at Newcastle.

“I don’t understand it. I can understand that people want to see a football match between Liverpool and Newcastle but I don’t see why any team should have an advantage or a disadvantage.

“The league and the broadcaster really have to try at least to help. We will see. I haven’t heard anything yet. Nobody from BT contacted me yet.

“But I’d say common sense would tell you that it’s probably the right thing to do to move the game slightly backwards.”

Eddie Howe’s response

“It’s a very difficult situation,” Eddie Howe responded. “They’ve been very successful this year and ended up playing a lot of games, so I understand it from their viewpoint. I’d probably have the same opinion if I was them.

“For us, we’ve been in their position many times over the years when you look at it and think ‘how’s this game been moved to this time or day’. We have very little say in the fixtures and when they come and how they sit. You just have to react and deal with it.

“I have every sympathy with Liverpool but they’re winning lots of games and in lots of competitions so naturally, it’s going to be that way.

Asked if it was unfair on Newcastle, Howe said: “That’s not for me to say. We get told when to play. We turn up and do our best.”

The 44-year-old added: “It’s not up to us to decide when games are played.

“We ended up playing four away games in very quick succession recently which was far from ideal for us but we had to bite the bullet and get on with it.

“We don’t decide the fixtures but I do have every sympathy with them.”