Former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr discussed Jürgen Klopp and his schedule rant on OTB Sports following commentary on Manchester United’s win over Southampton on Sunday.

Liverpool lost points after their 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in the midday fixture on Saturday, after Klopp’s side had just played on the preceding Wednesday.

After the match, Klopp was furious about what he called a ‘dangerous’ schedule dictated by broadcasters.

Kerr did not think that Klopp’s rant was entirely in the wrong.

“He is a very interesting character, he is so passionate,” Kerr said.

“He has a lot to say and I think he has a real point in relation to having to play at half 12 in the week where they played the Wednesday night game.

“There is so little time for recovery.”

Kerr can see both sides of the argument, though, as he knows the draw that Liverpool have in the wider reaches of the world.

“I can understand why the broadcasters want Liverpool at the half 12 game,” Kerr said.

“Obviously, commercially it is such a big tie in terms of world audiences and its timing in relation to the audience in Asia and America, in particular.

“So, I can [understand] their desire, but from Liverpool’s point of view I do think he has a point; that is the third time this season that Liverpool have had to play at half 12.”

While there are those that would argue the time of day does not make a massive difference, Kerr has seen the impact that the early game can have.

“I would agree with him that it does make some difference,” Kerr said.

“All of these managers are looking at very small percentages in gaining an edge against top class opposition.

“That is an edge that other people have in terms of time of recovery and the decreasing time of recovery for the teams that play on Wednesday night.

“[Ole Gunnar] Solskjær had a go at it recently too, so he is not alone in that.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (left) gestures towards the match officials after the Premier League match at the AMEX Stadium, Brighton. Mike Hewitt/PA Wire/PA Images

In addition to scheduling of matches to suit broadcasters rather than player welfare, Klopp also gave out over the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in his post-match rant.

Kerr agreed that it might be overused in the modern game of football.

“We are going to be talking about VAR for a long, long time,” Kerr said.

“I don’t like the fact that there are so many interruptions, that so many big decisions are coming down to the VAR.

“I think the authority of the referee is being taken away; I think the referees are now getting into a mindset at that level of: ‘well I always have VAR to rely on’.

“'I don’t have to make the big decision myself; I don’t have to rely on my hunch, I don’t have to go on my instinct; I can get it checked by VAR, and if they tell me I can have a look at it on the screen.'

“I can understand his frustration after the match.”

Klopp feeling the pressure of a modern manager

Kerr suggested that the modern football manager is under much more pressure today than managers were in his day.

“Managers often say some mad things after a match,” Kerr said.

“I have never lived with that type of pressure that he is under, managing a Premier League team.

“Your obligations are probably to do a certain number of media interviews after a game, and your head is spinning with the decisions you had to make in the match, and the way the game turned out.

“So many VAR decisions went against Liverpool in yesterday’s game; the two goals disallowed and the two penalty kicks as well.

“So, the frustration of the late penalty that very few people saw a foul in [Andrew] Robertson’s kick at [Danny] Welbeck, but VAR confirmed that there was a foul if you looked at it forensically.

“So that’s a frustration so late in the game; you could have gotten away with a 1-0 win without playing brilliantly.”

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