Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp criticised “dangerous” schedule following the side’s 1-1 draw at Brighton while rivals Manchester City rout Burnley 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Liverpool edged back to the top of the Premier League table, a point ahead of Tottenham, but were left frustrated by Pascal Gross’s stoppage-time penalty which salvaged a point for Brighton.
Klopp had voiced his displeasure all week at facing a lunchtime kick-off just three days after a Champions League defeat to Atalanta.
Already hit by a huge list of injuries, the Reds suffered another setback when James Milner had to be replaced with a hamstring problem in the second-half.
“Congratulations,” Klopp said sarcastically to a television reporter for BT Sport. “You work for them yeah? Hamstring, surprise. I’ve not had a go at the broadcaster, I just say how it is. After Wednesday, Saturday 12.30 is really dangerous for the players.”
Klopp named Neco Williams and Nathaniel Phillips in a makeshift back four and Brighton took advantage when Williams wiped out Aaron Connolly for Brighton’s first spot-kick, but Neal Maupay sent it wide.
Mohamed Salah was then denied an opener by VAR for offside but the Egyptian teed up Diogo Jota to keep his flying start to life at Liverpool going with a fine finish on the hour mark.
Sadio Mane had a second for the visitors ruled out for offside before another VAR review went against Liverpool when Andy Robertson was adjudged to have kicked Danny Welbeck trying to clear.
This time Gross took responsibility from the spot and sent Alisson Becker the wrong way.
Mahrez hits hat-trick
City shrugged off their problems in front of goal by hitting five past Burnley for the fourth consecutive clash between the two at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s men had scored just seven goals in their previous seven league games, but Riyad Mahrez’s early double opened the floodgates.
Benjamin Mendy made it 3-0 before half-time and Ferran Torres got his first Premier League goal before Mahrez completed the scoring and his hat-trick.
Victory propelled City to within six points of Liverpool at the top of the table with a game in hand.
“It’s important for us to score goals and keep going,” said Guardiola, who will hope a favourable run of fixtures over the next month can haul his side back into the title race.
Maradona remembered
Sergio Aguero was not involved for City, but Guardiola confirmed that was due to a small injury problem rather than his close family connection to Diego Maradona, who died aged 60 on Wednesday.
Aguero was previously married to and had a child with Maradona’s daughter Giannina.
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti was reduced to tears before his side’s 1-0 loss to Leeds as respects were paid to Maradona before all Premier League games this weekend with a minute’s applause.
An enthralling 90 minutes followed at Goodison Park with chances aplenty for both sides but just one goal, scored by Raphinha 11 minutes from time.
James Rodriguez and Richarlison had strikes ruled out for offside before the break, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin dragged a big chance wide for Everton early in the second-half.
Leeds, who had the majority of the chances, finally made the breakthrough when Raphinha arrowed a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner for his first goal since joining the club in August.
“He is a player who has adapted very quickly to the Premier League,” said Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa. “He is a player who moves all around and has the capacity to unbalance defences.”
Leeds move up to 11th, while a fourth defeat in five games leaves Everton still in sixth.
West Brom claimed their first win back in the top-flight as Connor Gallagher’s strike earned a 1-0 win over Sheffield United.
Victory took Slaven Bilic’s men out of the bottom three, while the Blades remain rooted to the foot of the table with just one point from 10 games.
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