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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

Liverpool faced with crippling run of fixtures after enhancing quadruple dream

Liverpool must contend with a gruelling run of up to nine fixtures in April after they progressed to the FA Cup semi-finals - including two clashes with Manchester City in quick succession.

The Reds battled to a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday evening with Diogo Jota producing a late goal to break the Championship club's stubborn resistance. The result means Liverpool are still competing in three competitions having already won this season's Carabao Cup by beating Chelsea via a penalty shootout in February's final.

Jurgen Klopp insists his side can only look to the next game in their bid for a historic quadruple which also rests on success in the Premier League and Champions League. The Anfield club are one point behind City in the top flight and they have been dealt a favourable European draw which pits them against Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The upshot of Liverpool's pursuit of four trophies is a testing run of fixtures which is only too evident in April, when they are guaranteed to play eight games. This will become nine if they progress beyond Benfica to reach the Champions League semi-finals, leaving them with no free midweeks for the entire month.

Klopp is all too aware of the trials and tribulations that await and pointed out there are a host of tricky encounters including derbies against Manchester United and Everton. "We are in-between... we start with Watford, Benfica then City, City, United, Everton," the German said after the victory at the City Ground.

"From a Liverpool perspective these are all massive games, so we will try to play them once at a time and not altogether. It will not be possible. Before the game, [we knew] obviously City would be the opponents if you want to go to the final anyway.

Can Liverpool win the quadruple this season? Have your say in the comments!

Liverpool are 90 minutes away from their first FA Cup final since 2012 (Getty Images)

"The further you go in whichever competition, it is likely you will face City at one point. And this year that you will face us at one point, I don't think we are the dream draw for anybody. But it will be a tough one, we have to make sure we make it tough for City as well. There are a lot of games to play before then."

Liverpool's April fixtures

Saturday 2: Watford (H), Premier League

Tuesday 5: Benfica (A), Champions League quarter-finals first leg

Sunday 10: Man City (A), Premier League

Wednesday 13: Benfica (H), Champions League quarter-finals second leg

Saturday 16/Sunday 17: Man City (N), FA Cup semi-finals

Tuesday 19: Man United (H), Premier League

Sunday 24: Everton (H), Premier League

Tuesday 26/Wednesday 27: Potential Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich or Villarreal

Saturday 30: Newcastle (A), Premier League

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