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Frank Lampard has criticized what he believes to be an unfair festive advantage for Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
Just 48 hours separate the Londoners’ Boxing Day clash at Arsenal and their 5.30pm showdown at home to Aston Villa on Monday.
By contrast, Liverpool have more than 72 hours between Sunday’s game at Anfield with West Bromwich Albion and Wednesday night’s trip to Newcastle United.
And Lampard is convinced that the Reds are among several leading clubs that have been given a preferable schedule over Christmas.
“The fact that there are two games in 48 hours is an important point for us because there are other teams that are challenging at the top of the League that play two games in three days,” said the Chelsea manager.
“Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool play two games in three days.
“It is counterproductive for the quality of the Premier League, it is a risk for the players if they are going to play both games in the high-level elite sport, everyone knows that.
“I know that sometimes you can blame the broadcasters and I know that together with each other, and this bounced, it was decided that we play twice in 48 hours when other teams that are challenging at the top of the league play twice in three days, an extra 24-hour recovery.
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“I don’t see what a fair playing field is like, I think it’s bad and it’s not going to be the best for the players to play at the highest level.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Aston Villa have the same problem, but I’m just saying we don’t have the rest period that other teams have.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has long been a critic of the brief turnaround of matches during the festive period.
And both Klopp and Lampard have been at the forefront of calls for the temporary reintroduction of five substitutions in Premier League games due to concerns about the well-being of the players.
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