Anfield legend Steve Nicol has ordered Jurgen Klopp to take the Southampton job if he cannot handle the pressure of the fixture list at Liverpool.
Klopp has frequently criticised the Premier League, the FA and UEFA for allegedly overburdening his players in years gone by. This season has been no different and the German aimed a fresh dig at European football's governing body on Monday.
Klopp was unhappy his side had to play Southampton on Tuesday night, three days after defeating Chelsea to win the FA Cup, because the Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers was scheduled for the following day. On paper, it would have made more sense for Liverpool to have three full days of rest before travelling to the Saints and the same break before their clash against Wolves on Sunday.
However, the clash with the Europa League final meant this was not possible and Klopp declared he would be forced into many changes for the trip to St Mary's given the Reds were taken to extra-time and penalties at Wembley over the weekend. While many would sympathise with the Liverpool manager, Nicol had no time for his "complaining" and sent a reminder that a "heavy schedule" is part and parcel of leading a team like Liverpool.
"Jurgen, your next job, take the Southampton job and then you won't have to worry about complaining about fixtures," the former right-back - who made 468 appearances for the Reds between 1981 and 1994 - told ESPN . "Come on. Does he really want to turn round and ask the FA to help Liverpool?
"You'd hear every other man and his dog complaining that they're going out of their way. Look, if you're as good as they are and as successful as they are, you're going to have a heavy schedule. So I find it a little bit… he's saying nothing that successful teams' managers have not been saying since I was playing in the 80s.
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"It was the exact same in the 80s. You're not a special case because you do well, you shouldn't expect anybody to look after you, so I don't know why you go complaining.
"And he didn't have to. Stop complaining. I'll tell you what, how many fans around the country, around Europe, would love to have the problem that he's got? So, come on, don't complain about it."
Although Liverpool had a quick turnaround for their trip to the south coast, they are benefitting from a full four days to prepare for their final-day clash against Wolves in the knowledge they can still win the title if Manchester City drop points against Aston Villa.
