Konaté calls for Premier League to follow Ligue 1's lead on fixture scheduling
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté has publicly urged the Premier League to consider postponing domestic fixtures for clubs competing in the latter stages of the Champions League. The French international made the comments following Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 victory over his Liverpool side in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, a match for which PSG benefited from a rescheduled Ligue 1 fixture.
Konaté pointed to the decision by the French football authorities to move PSG's league match against Lens, originally set for this past weekend, to May 13th. This allowed the Parisians a clear week to prepare for the European encounter. "I’d like us to have the same thing in the Premier League, but it’s completely different," Konaté said in a post-match interview. "I think Ligue 1 is helping them to achieve something in the Champions League. I hope that in the Premier League, they will do the same thing in the future or why not this season for the teams who play in the Champions League?"
The centre-back noted this is the second consecutive season such scheduling aid has been afforded to PSG, referencing a similar occurrence last year. His remarks highlight a growing debate over the balance between domestic and European commitments, particularly in England, where the league calendar is notoriously congested without a winter break. The Premier League has historically been reluctant to reschedule matches purely for European preparation, often leaving clubs facing difficult turnarounds.
Konaté, 24, joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 and has become a mainstay in their defence when fit. His perspective is informed by Liverpool's own demanding schedule, which this season includes a deep run in the Europa League. The fixture load is often cited by managers as a factor impacting performance and player fitness in crucial matches.
The call for scheduling support comes at a sensitive time for Liverpool, who must overturn the first-leg deficit against PSG at Anfield next week while also maintaining a challenge for the Premier League title. While Konaté's comments are a personal plea rather than an official club request, they bring a player's voice to an ongoing discussion among executives and coaches. His intervention suggests that players at the highest level are increasingly aware of how administrative decisions can impact their chances of success on the pitch. The Premier League has not indicated any immediate change to its policy, but public pressure from high-profile players may add weight to future appeals from competing clubs.
