Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 7y

Liverpool, Man United should get more time before 'massive game' - Klopp

LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp says he wishes the Premier League allowed more time for Liverpool and Manchester United to prepare for Saturday's encounter following the short turnaround from the international break.

Liverpool host arch-rivals United at Anfield in the weekend's early kick-off, with all of Klopp's players on national team duty reporting back to Melwood by Thursday.

With an estimated 700 million people tuning in to watch a meeting between to two sides in March 2015, Klopp feels the spectacle itself would be better with more time allowed for preparation.

"It's a massive game," he told a news conference. "I would love to ask the Premier League to give both teams more time to prepare for a game like this.

"Our fans are waiting for a game since the last two weeks and since we played them last year.

"It's a pretty big game, so maybe next time they will have a look and bring these teams together when they can work in the direction of this game.

"Sometimes I really could have wished that we had much more time until such an important game to make the preparation. But it's our job and our challenge. It's the same for the other team. Let's go."

Having already lost Sadio Mane for up to six weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained when playing for Senegal, Klopp said he was "not happy" Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson playing the entirety of England's win in Lithuania.

England had already qualified for the World Cup prior to Sunday's game, and Klopp feels Henderson should have been protected, given his recent history of injuries.

"England played a friendly game on an artificial surface, it was a qualifying game but they were already qualified," Klopp said.

"I was not happy that 'Hendo' was on the pitch to be honest with all the problems he's had in the past -- I thought it made no sense.

"We cannot be involved in this -- they all make their own decisions. No manager of a national side has asked me so far before a game: 'How would you line up?'"

Meanwhile, Klopp says Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino are in condition to play at Anfield on Saturday, having had a private jet transport them back from South America after playing for Brazil.

"The club is doing everything to bring the boys back," the Reds boss added. "We work really close together with other clubs in this region so we can bring all the South American players home together.

"That's good. Phil played two games, Roberto played around about five minutes or something like this so it's different of course, but they both had a long flight -- even when it was pretty comfortable, I'm sure. I was not in the plane, but I can imagine because I saw the price.

"So, they should be OK, and they are important, yes."

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