Tired, suffering footballers close to going on strike

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker said on Sept 16 that players' welfare is being disregarded as more matches are played during the season, while Manchester City midfielder Rodri suggested that players are close to striking.

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Liverpool headed to AC Milan on Sept 17 in the expanded Champions League, which includes an eight-game league phase and a possible two-legged play-off before the last 16. That match at the San Siro took place after press time.

"Sometimes, nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games," Alisson said.

"Maybe our opinion doesn't matter, but everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody's tired of that." Liverpool could play more than 60 matches this season, having played 58 last term.

"We understand we have the side of the media and TV, we have the side from Uefa, from Fifa, from the English Premier League and other domestic competitions," Alisson said.

"We are not stupid. 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."

A day after Alisson's comments, Rodri chimed in, warning ahead of City's Champions League clash against Inter Milan on Sept 18.