The Newcastle United response to Liverpool’s request for Premier League fixture to be moved

Liverpool have requested to the Premier League for the kick-off time with Newcastle United to be pushed back.

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

However, Klopp is far from happy with the schdueling with the fixture falling inbetween their two-legged Champions League semi-final with Villarreal.

What Jurgen Klopp has said

The Reds boss said on Thursday afternoon: “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 provides his views

Shortly after Klopp’s comments, it was revealed Liverpool had made a request to move the fixture - which Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe, speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash with Leicester City, has provided his views on.

“It’s a very difficult situation,” Howe admitted. “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.”