Rafael Benitez has expressed his anger at the fixture list, saying
it was "impossible to prepare a team properly" after international
matches.
Liverpool boss Benitez, like many of his fellow bosses, faces a
rush this weekend as he prepares his side to face Portsmouth in the
Premier league.
Many of the Spaniard's key players have been on duty with their
countries in crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers and far-flung
international friendlies and he believes the limited period of time
they have to recover for domestic action is restrictive.
Liverpool's visit to Fratton Park on Saturday, a 12.45pm kick-off,
is the first top-flight match of the weekend and Benitez has called
for a change of policy.
He told League Managers' website: "I am really disappointed with
the fixtures that we have because it is more difficult here in
England. You play early kick-offs on the Saturday (after
internationals) and it is impossible to prepare the team
properly.
"The players arrive back on Thursday evening and the only thing you
can do with some of them is just to run a little bit and send them
home.
"Friday morning you will have a light training session and you will
travel to Portsmouth in this case and you cannot prepare the
team."
He added: "Normally the players that are going away are
internationals because they are good players and you need these
players for winning every game.
"For me it's impossible to prepare the team properly, you can
prepare small details but to prepare the team physically and
mentally for the game will be difficult."
Benitez went on to question the treatment of sides who compete in
midweek in Europe and said the vagaries of the fixture list could
cost teams a shot at the title.
"One of the things for me that is important now is to change the
schedule for the top sides," he said.
"We had the same problem with the Champions League games; we were
playing on the Wednesday, then kick off on the Saturday and
normally away. I think it's not fair and in the end you have more
problems winning these games.
"When you play for the title, if you lose two or three games away
against 'normal' teams, after that you know maybe you can lose
against the top sides and maybe your possibilities will be more
difficult."