Jurgen Klopp is gearing up for his second Christmas as Liverpool manager so he is not totally ignorant of the English tradition of blitzing fans with matches over the 'holiday' period. Apologies for Americanism.
However, he is taken aback by Liverpool's schedule this year. They will play Manchester City on New Years Eve - a Saturday - and then take on Sunderland on 2 January - the Monday.
There isn't even a 48 hour between the games.
The Man City game is the 5.30 evening game on the Saturday. The match has been moved to accommodate Sky Sports scheduling.
They play Sunderland on 3.00pm on Monday.
In his critique, Klopp cleverly roped in the sorry English national team and their travails.
Forty-eight hours is an interesting idea but less than 48 hours I cannot believe. I learn more and more about this league and maybe I have to ask someone if we can ask if there will be another time for us at Sunderland.
Everyone is asking, 'Why is England not too successful in big tournaments?' Ask what other big countries are doing at this time of year and they have their legs on the sofa and are watching English football.
He's not said anything new there. A potential winter break had been explored before. The Premier League wasn't going to lose any cash because those in charge of the England team were complaining.
Many years ago, Sven Goran Eriksson lobbied very hard for the introduction of a winter break. He appeared to have won the FA's approval but the Premier League resisted. The traditionalists are also attached to the packed winter programme.
He cited the example of Owen Hargreaves and his stunning fitness ahead of the 2002 World Cup.
Owen Hargreaves was the fittest (in tests before the 2002 World Cup) because he had the long winter break (with Bayern Munich). Uefa did medical research into injuries in the big leagues in Europe from March 1 to the end of the season. England were higher with injuries than anyone else [by four to one]. You don't learn, because the Premier League want games to be played all the time. So people can watch it everywhere.
