'Blimey': Chris Sutton can't believe what he's been hearing from £67m Liverpool player
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Fixture congestion is a hot topic in football right now.
The new Champions League format has added even more games to the calendar, while the extended Club World Cup will only make things worse too.
A number of top players have been making a lot of noise about there being too many games in the calendar.
Rodri has suggested that players could eventually go on strike, while Liverpool'sAlisson Becker has been vocal about how he feels about this situation.
“Sometimes nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games. Maybe our opinion doesn’t matter, but everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody’s tired of that," Alisson said.
“We understand we have the side of the media and TV, we have the side from UEFA, from FIFA, from the Premier League and other domestic competitions.”
“We are not stupid, we understand that. We understand that people want more games, but the reasonable thing would be for all these sides that I mention and the people who are responsible for making the calendar to sit together and to listen to all the parts, including the players.”
“If you are tired you cannot compete at a high level. What I want is to give my best in all the games I play."
Alisson clearly isn't happy with this situation, but speaking on the It's All Kicking Off Podcast, Chris Sutton has discredited the Brazilian's comments.
Indeed, while Sutton was sympathetic towards most players' complaints, he couldn't get his head around why Alisson was complaining, suggesting that a goalkeeper's role is easy.
Chris Sutton shocked by Alisson complaints
Sutton shared his verdict on the £67m man's complaints.
"I think the Alisson situation did make me chuckle. A goalkeeper moaning about having too many games, blimey, a couple of half volleys everyday and a couple of dives left and right and they're back home with their family. Deary me," Sutton said.
Alisson tiredness complaints don't add up
As much as Sutton is stirring the pot here, he does have a point.
Alisson’s complaints about not being able to perform at the top level because he's tired, but goalkeeping isn't the most strenuous.
In fact, according to the Premier League's stats, Alisson runs less than one kilometer per match, so it's not exactly the toughest job in the world from a fatigue point of view.
Of course, mental fatigue is a factor, but that's the case in any season regardless of the number of games.
There are probably too many games being played these days, but goalkeepers don't have much right to complain about the strain they're feeling considering how much harder their outfield counterparts have to work.
