Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said Premier League clubs agree that players should not be released this month to play in international matches if they then have to quarantine upon their return.
Brazilian trio Alison Baker, Roberto Firmino and Fabinho and Portugal striker Diogo Jota will be required to undergo a 10-day lockdown under current guidelines when they arrive from the Red List countries.
Prior to the international break in March, FIFA extended an exemption for clubs to refuse to release their players if there was a mandatory quarantine of five days or more in the country concerned.
“I think all clubs agree that with the same problems, we cannot allow players to leave and then arrange the situation upon their return by putting our players in quarantine for 10 days in a hotel. This is not possible,” Klopp said.
“I understand the needs of the different football federations, but this is a time when we cannot make everyone happy. We have to admit that the players receive their salaries from the clubs, and this means that we must be our top priority.”
Clubs are not required to release players for international duty following the extension of the FIFA exception
Klopp added that the club would wait until any travel decisions are made before the scheduled international break between March 22 and March 30.
“We cannot make everyone happy at the same time in this period of our lives,” he said. “We are not 100% sure because it is not clear that some countries may change the stadiums they play in.”
Klopp hopes that Fabinho, who missed the Reds’ last four matches due to a muscle injury, can return to his regular midfield role during the remainder of the season after having played 18 different pairs at center defense this season.
“Returning Fabinho to the midfield will be very beneficial in some matches,” the German coach said.
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Liverpool picked Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak as center back in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United – a result Klopp believes brought the club back “around the first four matches” after it “got out” of the race after the match. Defeat of the Merseyside Derby.
Klopp added, “Stability will always be great if we can do that. I’ve heard there are people being criticized with both (Philips and Capac) which is really picky.”
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Thursday 4 March 8:00 pm
It starts at 8:15 PM
Thursday’s visit to Chelsea will see Club face Thomas Tuchel, who also coached Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, with both clubs aiming to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Chelsea have one point advantage with 12 games remaining in the season, and Klopp expects a difficult match against a side that have conceded only two goals since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge in January.
“We have known each other for a long time,” said Klopp, whose team has not won at Anfield since December. “We have a common history.
“He is a great coach and it will be difficult to play with him as ever because he is a good coach.”