REVEALED: Watford snubbed Liverpool’s request to move their next Premier League game to an evening kick-off in a bid to make Alisson and Fabinho available after late finish to South America World Cup qualifiers
- Liverpool tried to move their October 16 match from 12:30pm to 7:45pm
- Watford argued against the request, saying that it will have impacted the fans
- Reds would have had Brazil duo Alisson, and Fabinho available for the match
- As it stands, they will play for Brazil against Uruguay about 24 hours before
Watford have snubbed a Liverpool request to move their meeting after the international break, denting Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of fielding his Brazilian players at Vicarage Road.
The two clubs will meet in the 12.30pm kick off and the first match of the next round of Premier League games, which will also be Claudio Ranieri’s first as new Hornets manager.
It takes place just 35 hours after Brazil, whose latest squad includes Allison and Fabinho, face Uruguay in their third World Cup qualifier of this fortnight’s break at 1.30am on Friday October 15.
Alisson could be absent for Liverpool’s next Premier League match against Watford
Midfield star Fabinho (centre) may also miss the Reds’ trip to Vicarage Road later this month
As revealed by Sportsmail on Monday, some Premier League clubs have been looking into the logistics of their players featuring in the final games for their South American countries and getting them back to England in time to be available for domestic action the following day.
With that turnaround almost certainly too tight for a Saturday lunchtime game, Liverpool wanted it pushed back to 7.45pm but Watford refused the request made last month.
They argued that changing at short notice would disrupt the travel plans of those who had already made them given the kick-off time was decided in July.
Jurgen Klopp was keen for his side’s Saturday 12:30pm game to be moved to a 7:45pm kick-off
Watford argued that fans would have already sorted travel arrangements for the match
The situation leaves Liverpool among the clubs hoping that an agreement can be reached with their stars and their respective national teams to omit them from the final game of this international break and allow them to return after the second.
Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Leeds and Everton are also affected by the situation regarding the late kick offs for the final World Cup qualifiers, though they have a little more time to play with as their Premier League games kick off later than Watford v Liverpool.
Advertisement