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Liverpool's request to move fixtures over the festive period in order to ease congestion has been rejected by the Premier League, multiple sources have told ESPN FC. Jurgen Klopp's side are scheduled to play two games in less than 48 hours over the New Year period. They face Manchester City at Anfield in a 5:30 p.m. kickoff on Dec. 31 before travelling north to play Sunderland on Jan. 2 in a fixture that starts at 3 p.m. Liverpool wanted the kickoff time for the Sunderland match to be pushed back, but the Premier League refused their request due to other clubs playing the same sequence of matches over the same period, one source said. Last month Klopp voiced his displeasure at the fixture situation, saying: "I'm not too happy about this. "We have less than 48 hours between our games against Man City and at Sunderland -- interesting idea. Less than 48 hours I cannot believe, with travelling and stuff. "I don't know if we can do anything, but I learn more and more about this league and maybe we have to ask somebody if there would be another time for us at Sunderland. Klopp also suggested that the congested fixture list in the Premier League contributed to England's lack of success at major tournaments. "Everybody is asking why England [in the] summer is not too successful in big tournaments," he said. "Ask what all the other teams are doing, or what all other countries are doing at this [Christmas] time. "Ask them and you will see they have their legs on the sofa and [are] watching English football. That's what the big difference is."
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