April 4-10 could turn out to be a rollercoaster of emotions for Liverpool supporters.
Reds fans discovered their Champions League quarter-final opponents on Friday morning and they could definitely have received an easier draw.
Jurgen Klopp will host Premier League champions elect Manchester City on Wednesday April 4, with the return leg at the Etihad set to take place on Tuesday April 10.
Wedged in between those crucial European ties is the little matter of the Merseyside derby.
Originally scheduled for Sunday April 8 at 14.15, Liverpool’s clash with arch-rivals Everton has been moved forward a day to Saturday at 12.30.
The prospect of playing three massive games in six days does not sit well with Klopp, who vented his frustration just moments after learning of the rejigging of his team’s schedule.
“There will be a point when I’m looking forward to that game (Man City),” Klopp said.
“But in the moment I’m much more in the Watford mood and I’m already angry to be honest. I heard a second ago that the Premier League will put our game against Everton to 12.30pm on Saturday.
“I know countries where they cancel whole match days so their teams are in a proper shape. We play Wednesday night against Manchester City and then at 12.30pm three days later. I only heard a second ago.
“That’s not too cool but obviously we have to go the hard way and I’m used to that as well.”
As if the idea of facing one of the most in-form teams in Europe in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final wasn’t daunting enough, Klopp will have very little time to re-motivate his players and implement an entirely different strategy for their trip to Goodison Park.
Klopp added: “No. It means the players get up on Thursday, have lunch or breakfast, and then we train and then we have secondary recovery the next day and then we play at 12.30pm.
“It’s not perfect, we take it as it is.
“If I cannot be angry about something like that anything, if I have to be politically correct and say nothing, then I’m dead.
“I saw it. Whoever made the schedule didn’t think we’d make the quarter-finals because they gave us a Sunday game.
“It’s only Liverpool.”
