"It is disgraceful in this day and age that players are being asked to play a key Premier League game and then a League Cup Quarter-final in London just 48 hours later," Dalglish said. "It's understandable … that the Met Police have said that our game cannot be played on the Wednesday. But it's surely the duty of the football authorities to think of other solutions which consider the welfare of the players and this clearly hasn't happened."
The Reds' manager slammed the FA for scheduling a Carling Cup quarterfinal between LFC and Chelsea on Nov. 29. The Reds take on Manchester City in the English Premier League two days prior. Liverpool hoped to play the Cup game on Wednesday, Nov. 30, but police could not provide adequate security because of other games and a sizeable protest taking place in London that day.
"It is my job to stand up for the interests of Liverpool Football Club," he added. "Here you have two clubs who have treated this competition with utmost respect over the years and they are being treated like this. I'd be interested to know what the sponsors think of the situation and what it does for the reputation of the competition."
Liverpool has underlined the importance of the Carling Cup throughout the season. Dalglish fielded strong teams in each game (including two against opponents that compete in lower divisions) and players consider them to be their European games this season.
Many consider the Carling and FA Cups LFC's best chances for winning silverware this season and Dalglish may be forced to play a mix of reserves and regulars because of the short turnaround between games.
"If the Football League want to devalue their own competition," Dalglish said, "that's up to them, but they shouldn't then be upset if people use these games to help in the development of young players."
Liverpool and Manchester City were willing to play their league game one day earlier (Saturday, Nov. 26), but television interests prevented that compromise.
"We've also got the situation that both ourselves and Manchester City were happy for the League game to be moved back to the Saturday so we both had proper time to prepare, but again we are told by the Premier League that this is not possible either for TV reasons and just to get on with it."
Dalglish warned fans considering attending the game that the entertainment value on offer could be below standard.
"The one thing I will say to our fans is to think carefully before buying tickets for the League Cup game because we do not want them spending their money and then we decide there is no other option but to use only young players in the tie."
