Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, fears the ‘unacceptable” fixture schedule will take a toll on his international stars as he looks to navigate his club through seven competitions this season.

Klopp has long considered the gruelling calendar a farce and with Liverpool participating in the FIFA World Club championships, held in Qatar in December, there is potential for mid-season chaos. Premier League and potential domestic cup ties must be rearranged.

Liverpool have sought clarification from FIFA on the dates and format of the Qatar tournament, the European champions needing guidance as to whether senior players are obliged to be part of the squad.

The Liverpool manager is a long-term advocate of reducing the workload of the world’s top players – not only those at Anfield - but believes his observations are ignored. Instead he sees the demands increasing.

“We sit here and it sounds like I am having a moan or whatever. It is just the situation, in the long-term, is not acceptable,” said Klopp.

“It looks like nobody can imagine a week without football in the year. When did that happen? A game again, a game again.

“It is difficult, difficult for the boys. Everything will be fine this season. But in the long-term? We have to change it. There must be breaks. Come on, let them go. Be brave. Don’t treat every game like it is the last of a decade.”