The Premier League fixture schedule has come under a lot of scrutiny in recent weeks as clubs are being hit with injuries at an exceptional rate. With the FA Cup now in full swing for clubs, the Carabao Cup final looming and European knockouts on the horizon, teams are playing several times every week.
Since the 18th December, or two months, Liverpool have played 17 games in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League. This averages out at once every 3.65 days.
The Carabao Cup falls on the 16th March, which was the weekend in which Liverpool were due to play Aston Villa. The Premier League moved the fixture forward to this Wednesday, adding another fixture to this busy month.
How bad are the upcoming fixture runs?
Unai Emery was not pleased with the Premier League rejecting the club’s request to have the Liverpool fixture moved. He branded it not fair on his club due to the heavy fixture load imposed. It means that Aston Villa will have played eight matches between the 15th February and the 11th March, a period of just 24 days. This includes both legs of the Champions League round of 16 which is of huge importance for the club.
Liverpool as a result of reaching the Carabao Cup final and their previously rearranged game against Everton, have been playing every midweek since the 5th of January and will continue to do so until they play in the cup final in the middle of March. This means that Liverpool will have played 20 games in this period.
Why will March be quiet for Premier League clubs?
The Carabao Cup final on Sunday, 16th March, brings an end to this busy period. Straight away, sides will be shipping players off to their international sides. Alongside their two Champions League games, Aston Villa will only play one Premier League match in the month of March.
The fifth round of the FA Cup takes place between the 28th of February and the 3rd of March. Villa take on Cardiff on the 28th but then have an eight-day break before they play Brentford in the league.
Liverpool will play in the Carabao Cup final on the 16th March, but of course, Aston Villa players will get a break before the international period.
Some sides will play five games in March. They could play in the FA Cup fifth round, have two Premier League games, two Champions League games, and an FA Cup quarter-final after the international break.
Liverpool will play four matches after their busy winter period. Between their game against Newcastle and the first Champions League round of 16 game, they will get between a six- and seven-day break.
For Liverpool, this March, being out of the FA Cup could be everything they need to rest and recover for a push towards the Premier League and Champions League run-in.
Which squads are struggling with injuries?
Some sides have been beaten by the intense schedule. Arsenal, for example, got a break after being knocked out of the FA Cup third round. However, in their warm-weather training camp, Kai Havertz picked up a muscle injury that will keep him out until the end of the season. This added to the list of attackers with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. With Arsenal’s dynamic attacking style it is no wonder that with the schedule as it is, attackers have been left playing on the edge and have ended up picking up serious injuries.
Bournemouth have had serious injuries in their attack, and unsurprisingly, this came as the fixtures sped up in the Christmas period. Teams in the lower half are prepared at the beginning of the season to playing once per week. The winter then has an incredible effect on these sides, whose schedule effectively doubles.