Monday 8 October 2018 09:25, UK
Jurgen Klopp has called for Liverpool to be given a break after they ended a gruelling three-week schedule with a 0-0 draw against Manchester City.
Riyad Mahrez missed a late penalty at Anfield as the champions and their challengers preserved unbeaten starts to the season with a point on Super Sunday.
Liverpool let off by missed Mahrez pen
Liverpool head into the international break third in the Premier League, behind leaders City on goal difference. Klopp is relishing the opportunity to recuperate, but insists the same cannot be said for his players.
"I have a little break now, the players don't, they go to internationals," he told Sky Sports. "That makes life really complicated.
"I know people say they are on a lot of money but people want to see the best football and somebody has to start to give the boys a little break, because we can't as we play every three days.
"Somebody has to start thinking of the players, because without them this game is difficult to play.
"Today finishes off a very intense period for us with unbelievable games. I'm fine with it, you always can wish for more but the boys have given everything.
"We did really well after seven games in the last three weeks. They were at the highest level so you cannot have a second of a break.
"The one time we failed a little bit was against Napoli, that's it. Coming back like we did today, I'm happy with that."
Asked for his thoughts on the game, Klopp added: "It was a very intense game, two very well organised sides sticking to the plan.
"The start was brilliant, spot on from the first second, we caused them a lot of problems. We had fantastic situations but couldn't finish, unfortunately.
"We stayed in the game over 90 minutes, despite losing [James] Milner in the first half - that was a big blow.
"We had the ball a lot today but we had to be perfect in defending. To play the perfect game against City you need to be 100 per cent spot to concentrate and 100 per cent confident.
"We won in the past games against City but in no games were we as level as we were today.
"Today was a game full of respect, both teams respected each other a lot. So the game was to try and not lose the ball at the wrong moment because that would have been a big problem."
