Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has expressed concern about the growing number of matches players face each season, highlighting that players’ voices are often ignored. Ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with AC Milan on Tuesday, Alisson spoke out about the impact of the revamped tournament, which now includes an eight-game league phase and a potential play-off before the last 16.
FIFPro, the global footballers’ union, has already raised alarms about player workloads, calling for safeguards in light of the expanding football calendar. Alisson echoed these concerns, stating, “Sometimes nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games… Everybody’s tired of that.”
Liverpool played 58 matches last season, and this season could see them exceeding 60. Alisson, who made over 40 appearances last year for club and country, emphasized that fatigue affects performance, saying, “If you are tired, you cannot compete at a high level.”
While Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged that fans enjoy more frequent big matches, he admitted the true impact of the extra fixtures on players won’t be clear until the season’s end.
