Medical expert demands change as Liverpool stars at serious risk
Liverpool stars will pay a heavy physical and mental price unless the jam-packed fixture schedule is addressed.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Liverpool played 63 games in all competitions in 2021-22.
The likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah turned out 70 times with international matches included.
As relayed by The Guardian last Thursday (26 May), a Fifpro survey revealed that 55 per cent of their 1055-player sample size had suffered a fatigue-related injury.
The data also found that only 32 per cent had the recommended four-week break between seasons. and that the crowded schedule has had an adverse effect on mental health.
Dinnery explained why the lack of respite is a serious issue for Liverpool players.
“The demands on players these days are greater and greater,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“It’s been a really heavy, difficult season. There were disruptions to pre-season last time, and there is a quick turnaround for the internationals this time.
“We’re already in June and players are going to be starting their pre-season programme almost straight away. Physically and mentally, you need a chance to refresh.
“Ultimately, it’s going to affect performance. You’re not going to be at your best. From a supporter’s point of view, you’re paying a lot of money., but these players often can’t deliver consistently because of the demands put on them.
“At the elite level, I would say that money is inconsequential. But as we drop further down, there are players on lesser salaries who are more reliant on those extra games.
“It’s a fine balance to strike. But we need to start looking after our players better.
“It doesn’t matter how far we go with sports science, injuries are a constant. But we can mitigate soft tissue and muscular issues by managing player load and being sensible with the fixture schedule.”
In other news, Liverpool in “advanced talks” to sign Calvin Ramsay after permission granted.