Jürgen Klopp has called on Sky to seriously consider the implications of scheduling a match on Christmas Eve which he believes supporters have no appetite for.
It is understood the broadcaster are considering moving Liverpool’s fixture against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium back a day and have already made both clubs aware they want them to consider the prospect.
Klopp accepts the billions of pounds clubs accept from the television company mean they can have few complaints when issues like this arise but he does not believe the scheduling is in the greater good.
“I really cannot imagine that anyone wants to watch football on that night,” said the Liverpool manager. “I really think it is no problem for people to be very concentrated on important nights on something other than football.
“If the supporters want to see a game on Christmas Eve then probably the television broadcaster will find a way to deliver it and obviously they’ve found a way already – I didn’t know before the date was possible but now I know it is possible.
“If we play on December 24 I am not sure we can fight against it. Sky has to make a decision if they really want to do this, if they really want to bring supporters onto the streets that night, if they really want to bring all the people who work for television away from home that night. Maybe we will play without the media - that would be nice, just one camera.”
It is understood Arsenal are mindful of the issues hosting the match on Christmas Eve would present, both in terms of staffing at the Emirates Stadium as well as the obvious disruption for all the supporters.
Klopp has had his complaints about fixture scheduling before after they were forced to play twice in less than 48 hours over the festive period. On New Year’s Eve 2016 they hosted Manchester City at 5.30pm before heading to Sunderland for a 3pm start on 2 January.
The Premier League’s view is that clubs knew what they were selling when the latest television deal – with each live game worth £1.2m – was struck and so can have few complaints.
Sky will make the final decision, which is still some weeks off, after receiving police advice and if there are no objections on that front it is likely to go ahead.
SOURCE : GUARDIAN SPORTS posted by CAMPUS94
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