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Liverpool lead the Premier League title race as things stand but face a difficult period of matches in the coming weeks(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

As a result of reaching the the 2024/25 Carabao Cup final, the Premier League moved Liverpool's away fixture at Aston Villa ahead to Wednesday, March 26.

It is a decision that former Reds hero Steve McManaman has now branded 'very strange'.

With Arne Slot's sights on a first piece of silverware as head coach at Anfield, one trophy he could yet claim is one Liverpool have found most elusive in the modern era - the Premier League.



Won for the first time in three decades under Jurgen Klopp, another could be lifted by the end of the season.

Though there is an obvious reason the title is so difficult to win.

A whole 38-game season is so gruelling, especially towards the business end when a team has to play every three or four days, as Liverpool have been told they must with Villa next week.

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The Reds had automatically qualified for the Champions League's round of 16, therefore thinking they could get some midweek respite by avoiding the play-offs between upcoming weekend league fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home and Manchester City away.

But as they are now competing with Newcastle United for the Carabao Cup at Wembley Stadium on March 16, the match that would have taken place that weekend against Unai Emery's team has been brought forward.

"The Aston Villa one is very strange because Liverpool actually thought they were going to get a bit of time off, finishing first in the Champions League.

Little did they know they were going to change the tie against Aston Villa - because of the Carabao Cup final - forwards, which is very strange," McManaman told TNT Sports at Goodison Park at Wednesday night's Merseyside derby.

"They’ve jammed it in, the Premier League, so they probably haven’t done Liverpool a lot of favours."

In actual fact it is the English top-flight policy to stage rearranged games at the next available opportunity, thus the Villa match takes place sooner than expected rather than at a later date.

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But on a positive note, McManaman added: "The games come around, they come around quick.

Liverpool have been in such good form that sometimes you don’t mind playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday.
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