Virgil van Dijk calls for ‘conversation’ over fixture congestion amid Liverpool challenge

Virgil van Dijk has called for a solution to be found over football’s packed fixture lists.

Liverpool have a run of 10 matches until New Year’s Day.

While having games in quick succession is a staple of English football around the festive season, Van Dijk believes the football authorities pay little attention to the strain it puts on players.

Klopp has often been derided for his stance on the club playing Saturday lunchtime games after an international break

Heading into, what could be a season-defining set of games, Van Dijk insists the squad will collectively roll up their sleeves, but feels that football cannot continue to ignore the need to address fixture congestion.

Van Dijk

“There are times during the season when games come so thick and fast that it feels like you have no sooner finished one and you start preparing for another one almost straight away.

"There is no doubt that the coming month is one of those periods.”

“From tonight’s fixture onwards we will play nine games in 27 days, which is obviously a challenge, but it is also a schedule that every one of us has to and will embrace because only by attacking it together will we get as much out of it as we possibly can.

“I have spoken on a number of occasions about the risks that an overly-congested fixture calendar causes to players and I stand by every word. This is very much a conversation that football needs to have for the sake not just of those who play, but also for the game itself.

“This shouldn’t be controversial because everyone in football should have the best interests of the game at heart. It is just about finding the right balance that works for everyone.”

Van Dijk previously said:

“If you play football at this level, you know there are always going to be periods in games – and also periods of games – when toughing it out has to be the priority.

"I have no doubt whatsoever that we will face spells like this in the coming weeks. This isn’t being negative, it is facing up to the reality of the challenge that awaits,”

“Our job is to see the hurdles and jump them one by one.

"We have to be confident, we have to give everything and we also have to enjoy it. If we can do all of these things then our chances of getting as much as we possibly can out of this period will be all the better.”