Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has launched a blistering attack on the "disgraceful" fixture scheduling which will see his side play two matches in 48 hours.
The Reds face Manchester City in a 4pm kick-off on Sunday, November 27 before travelling to London for their Carling Cup quarter-final with Chelsea the following Tuesday. Despite attempts to have one of the matches rescheduled the club's efforts have fallen on deaf ears.
"It is disgraceful in this day and age that players are being asked to play a key Premier League game and then a League Cup quarter-final in London just 48 hours later," he told liverpoolfc.tv.
"It's understandable with the Spurs v PAOK Salonika (Europa League) match and the TUC rally that the Met Police have said that our game cannot be played on the Wednesday.
"But it's surely the duty of the football authorities to think of other solutions which consider the welfare of the players and this clearly hasn't happened.
"When we ask the Football League to move our game to a later date, we're told it's impossible. Where's the logic in that?"
And Dalglish went as far as taking the unprecedented step of warning fans they should consider whether or not to buy tickets for the cup tie as he may field a youth team at Stamford Bridge.
"If the Football League want to devalue their own competition, that's up to them, but they shouldn't then be upset if people use these games to help in the development of young players," he added.
"The one thing I will say to our fans is to think carefully before buying tickets for the League Cup game.
"We do not want them spending their money and then we decide there is no other option but to use only young players in the tie."
Source: PA
