Pep Guardiola has warned Liverpool the fixture congestion they face in December is nothing compared to whatManchester Citydealt with last season.
City got a busy December off to a flying start with a 4-1 win atBurnleyto cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points.
Liverpoolhave the chance to restore their 11 – point advantage over their title rivals when they welcomeEvertonto Anfield for Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby.
It is the first of 11 games in 34 days for Liverpool, who face one more game than City during the same period due to their commitments in the Club World Cup.
But Guardiola has told Jurgen Klopp’s side that they are still “in debit” – after City played more games than Liverpool on their way to an unprecedented domestic treble last season.
Liverpool exited both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup at the earliest opportunity last season, while City went all the way in both competitions, adding those trophies to the league title which they won by a single point from the Reds.
“Last year we played 10 games more than Liverpool so don’t worry, they are in debit, “joked Guardiola, in quotes reported by theManchester Evening News.
“It’s what it is, it’s a crazy month month in December, but no problem, we are going to try.”
Klopp must plan for a busy month without midfielder Fabinho and center-half Joel Matip, who are both injured, but the Liverpool boss was philosophical when asked about the festive fixture congestion.
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“It is not easy, but as long as someone decides we have to do it, we do it,” said Klopp. “You need a bit of luck with injuries – that is very important – and I have a lot of decisions about who is ready and not.
“It would be hard if we are the only team with that kind of schedule, but it is all okay.
“We cannot change it, so we don’t think too much about it.”
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