Liverpool mull separate teams for Carabao Cup, FIFA Club WC clash

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Friday admitted that he would be open to the idea of fielding two different teams in the European champions' Carabao Cup and FIFA Club World Cup games to be held most probably on the same day in December 2019. However, he has insisted that the main players of his side would be in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup. 

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Liverpool reached the Carabao League Cup quarter-finals after a dramatic win over Arsenal. The match was decided by penalties after both sides scored five past each other. Dani Ceballos missed the spot-kick for the Gunners. The Reds will now face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, with December 17 or 18, 2019 as the speculated date. However, the Reds have to travel to Qatar in the same week, courtesy of their UEFA Champions League win in June 2019.

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Klopp had criticised FA and EFL

Klopp had warned that the European champions could pull out of the Carabao Cup if the Football Association (FA) and English Football League (EFL) did not help sort out the club's hectic fixture schedule. Klopp's comments came after Liverpool's win against Arsenal at Anfield. 

He insisted that the EFL will have to make a decision and be proactive in the future when creating a fixtures list. It seems highly unlikely that the EFL would run the risk of allowing Klopp to abandon the competition, considering the commercial and television appeal the record eight-time winners of the competition carry.

Liverpool have a hefty fixture

Klopp's side are scheduled to play a hefty nine fixtures in December 2019 and it is very likely that he will make the most use of almost all his players. The celebrated manager had also been critical of the scheduling of Liverpool's festive fixtures last year and had previously taken aim at UEFA for putting further demands on his international players with the introduction of the Nations League. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola backed Klopp's stance on fixtures' congestion and called on the relevant governing bodies to do more to protect players.

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