Brundish Unpacks Liverpool’s Fixture Chaos: Prioritising Key Matches | OneFootball

Navigating Fixture Congestion: Liverpool’s Strategic Selection Challenge

Optimising Liverpool’s Selection Amidst Fixture Congestion

As Liverpool fans, we’re all too familiar with the relentless grind of the modern football calendar. But this season? It’s something else entirely. With fixture congestion that could bring a machine to its knees, international breaks that chew up our best players, and the looming spectre of burnout, Arne Slot—our man in charge—has a challenge on his hands that would make even the most seasoned managers wince.

Photo: IMAGO

LFC’s Fixture Chaos

Let’s get one thing straight: this season’s schedule is an absolute bastard. From now until the first week of February—what I call Block 2 to  Block 4—Liverpool’s facing a hellish stretch of games. We’ve got:

* 14 matches in 44 days to kick things off, with a mix of Premier League must-wins, Champions League showdowns, and the occasional domestic cup game thrown in just to fuck with us.

* Three international breaks, where our best players will jet off to represent their countries, rack up another 540-810 minutes, and come back with all the energy of a wet noodle.

* The inevitable injuries that come with pushing players beyond their limits in the most unforgiving competition stretches we’ve seen in years.

To put it mildly, we’re in for a rough ride. The question is: how the hell do we get through this without half the squad ending up on crutches?

Photo: IMAGO

The Crucial Role of Data and Smart Rotations

Let’s dive into the data. Over the last eight seasons, Liverpool’s key players have racked up some serious minutes. We’re talking Alisson Becker averaging over 5,000 minutes a season, Trent Alexander-Arnold pushing 4,100 minutes, and that’s before you even factor in the international break bullshit.

Here’s what we know: if we keep flogging our best players like we did last season, we’re going to hit a wall. A big, painful, injury-ridden wall. But by carefully managing their workloads and being smart about rotation, we can keep them fresh for the games that really matter.

Minutes Played by Key Players Over the Last Three Seasons:

Strategic Player Selection – Who to Play, When and Why

So, how do we decide who plays when? We’ve got to prioritise. We can’t afford to send out our best XI for every bloody game; they’ll be in the physio’s room by Christmas. Here’s the plan:

Premier League Big Guns:

Matches against Arsenal (Oct 16), Manchester City (Nov 24), Newcastle (Nov 28), and Manchester United (Jan 28) are non-negotiable. We go all in. These games can decide the title race, and we need our best out there.

Champions League Showdowns:

We’re talking AC Milan (Sep 17), RB Leipzig (Sep 24), Leverkusen (Oct 23), and the big one, Real Madrid (Nov 20). These aren’t just matches; they’re battles. We need to prioritise these like our lives depend on it, because they kind of do. The financial and prestige benefits of progressing far in Europe are massive.

Domestic Cups:

Let’s be real: the Carabao Cup and even the FA Cup can take a backseat this season. They’re important, sure, but they’re not the top priority when we’re juggling the league and Europe. Matches like West Ham United (Sep 17) in the Carabao Cup are prime opportunities to rotate the squad, give the fringe players some game time, and rest our key men.

International Breaks:

After each international break, we’ve got to be strategic. Players like Trent and Alisson, who’ll be clocking up minutes for their countries, should be eased back in with some rotation against mid-table teams. Games like Brighton (Oct 19) and Crystal Palace (Jan 24) are perfect for this.

Photo: IMAGO

Player-Specific Rotation Strategy

Let’s break it down player by player, focusing on those who are most at risk from overuse:

Alisson Becker (GK1): The man’s a beast, but even he needs a break. We’re targeting no more than 5,000 minutes for him this season. Rotate him out for the lesser games, particularly in the Carabao Cup and maybe even an FA Cup tie or two. Ginger Kev might not be as solid, but he’ll hold the fort in these matches.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB1): The heartbeat of our attack down the right, but we’ve got to keep him from running himself into the ground. Ideally, Trent plays around 4,500 minutes this season, which means rotating him out for Bradley in the less critical matches. Trust me, we’ll thank ourselves come May.

Virgil van Dijk (CB1): Our defensive rock. But given his injury history, it’s vital we don’t overuse him. Give him a breather in domestic cups and against lower-tier Premier League sides, using Gomez or Konaté as needed.

Mo Salah (RW1): He’s our talisman, but he’s also human. Rotate him with Chiesa or Jota, especially after intense international breaks or when we’ve got a Champions League tie on the horizon.

Planned Minutes Allocation

Here’s the data visualisation showing the planned minutes allocation across competitions for the entire Liverpool squad:

Premier League (Red): Represents the majority of minutes for most players, reflecting the priority placed on the league.

Champions League (Blue): Significant minutes allocated here, emphasising the importance of this competition.

Domestic Cups (Green): Minimal minutes allocated to domestic cups, as part of the strategy to focus on the major competitions.

Planned Minutes Allocation Across Competitions for the Entire Squad:

This chart illustrates the careful balancing act required to keep players within their optimal load limits while still competing at the highest levels. By allocating minutes strategically, we can optimise performance and reduce the risk of injury across the squad

International Breaks: The Bane of Our Existence

I can’t stress enough how much these international breaks screw us over. Three times between now and February, our players will be jetting off, racking up another 540-810 minutes each, then coming back knackered. We’re talking jet lag, fatigue, and a serious risk of injury.

The key after each break is rotation. Sure, we want to win every game, but we’ve got to be smart about it. After each international break, the first game back is critical for squad rotation. For example, if Trent’s just played 270 minutes for England, he sure as hell shouldn’t be starting against Brighton three days later.

Photo: IMAGO

Rotating The Squad: It’s Not Just for Show

Here’s where Arne Slot earns his paycheck. It’s not about just throwing the benchwarmers a bone; it’s about using the squad effectively to make sure we’re not crippled by injuries by the time we get to the business end of the season.

Young Guns: Players like Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones need to be given meaningful minutes in less critical games. They’re more than capable of stepping up, and it gives the likes of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai the rest they’ll desperately need.

Fringe Players: Guys like Tyler Morton and Endo should be rotated in regularly. It’s all about keeping the squad fresh and ready for when we need them most.

Strategic Sacrifices: Let’s not pretend we’re going to win every game. Sometimes, a rotated squad might drop points against the likes of Brighton or Wolves, but if it means we’re at full strength for a Champions League knockout tie or a top-six Premier League clash, it’s worth it.

Sacking Off The Cups: The Harsh Reality

Now, let’s talk about the cups. I’m a romantic like the next fan, but this season? The cups can do one. We’re talking about survival here. If we want to be competing for the big prizes—Premier League and Champions League—we’ve got to be ruthless. That means sacking off the domestic cups.

Why? Because those midweek games in the FA Cup or Carabao Cup might just cost us in the games that really matter. More rest and time to practice in midweeks could be the difference between a fresh squad ready to take on City in a title decider, or a knackered one that’s just scraped past some dross in the third round of the FA Cup.

Photo: IMAGO

What Does Success Look Like?

So, what’s the endgame here? Ideally, by February, we want to be:

Top 2 in the Premier League, within striking distance of the top spot.

Comfortably through the Champions League group stage and in a strong position for the knockouts.

To get there, we’ve got to be smart—something Klopp and his team have done well in the past. But this season’s a whole different animal. The combination of fixture congestion, international breaks, and the sheer intensity of the games we’re facing means there’s no room for error.

Final Thoughts: Brutal Reality

Here’s the brutal truth: if we don’t manage our squad wisely, we’re fucked. The fixtures are coming thick and fast, and the risks are higher than ever. But with smart rotation, prioritisation, and a bit