What Jurgen Klopp has said about postponements and…

What Jurgen Klopp has said about postponements and Liverpool plans amid fixture chaos

Liverpool are one of six Premier League teams not in action this weekend as their clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was postponed.

Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, football was halted last weekend as a sign of respect. It's returned, on the most part, this weekend but a number of fixtures were called off 'following extensive consultation with clubs, police, local Safety Advisory Groups and other relevant authorities'.

Jurgen Klopp 's side were in Champions League action midweek as a late header from Joel Matip secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Ajax at Anfield. They won't play a Premier League fixture, though, until after the international break when Brighton visit Anfield on October 1.

Speaking before the Ajax game this week, the Liverpool boss explained how his team has used the time off. He told reporters: "Of course, in a week with Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday this would’ve been a tough one anyway, coming back Thursday afternoon and stuff like this. But yes, we would have wanted to play.

"But for the reasons we all know, it didn’t happen and of course we respect that. Now we try to use the time for analysis and training, which made absolute sense after the game we played at Napoli."

The extended break will allow Liverpool to work with new signing Arthur Melo, as well as those currently on the sidelines recovering from injury. Given the Brazilian, on loan from Juventus, joined on deadline day and hadn't trained with his parent club, he is in desperate need of match fitness.

The ECHO understands bespoke individual sessions, gym work and general team training will be the focus for Arthur over the next two weeks in a bid to get himself up to speed before the visit of Brighton next month. Liverpool's injured cohort will also be working on their own respective fitness in the time off.

Klopp told reporters before the Napoli game: "Arthur now needs just football - and training, especially, that's how it is. He wasn't in team training for a while at Juve, so he needs proper team training - and that's what we are doing with him."

The 26-year-old midfielder played 90 minutes for Liverpool's under-21s against Leicester City on Saturday, in what was another step forward in his bid to regain match fitness. He also played alongside first-team players Nat Phillips and Fabio Carvalho.

Captain Jordan Henderson is among the players who could return after the international break, as he's been sidelined with a hamstring problem. Andy Robertson also picked up a knee problem in recent weeks and missed the visit of Ajax on Tuesday night.

Ibrahima Konate so far hasn't featured for the Reds this season as he picked up an injury in their final friendly last month against Strasbourg. He's another who could return to action after the international break.

For those who have featured most heavily this campaign, the weekend off has provided an opportunity for a much needed break. Luis Diaz 's girlfriend Gera Ponce shared a snap on Instagram over the weekend of the Colombian in New York City with his family before he jets off on international duty.

With the schedule only set to become more intense from October onwards, with the World Cup in Qatar on the horizon - there will be little time for rest over the coming months. Diaz has played close to 800 minutes of football in all competitions so far this season and has four goals.

Following the match against Brighton in two weeks time, the Reds will then host Rangers in the Champions League with matches against Arsenal, Manchester City, West Ham and Nottingham Forest to follow.

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