Liverpool request denied – Brazil stars to miss Watford clash

Liverpool have been denied a request to move their next Premier League game to an evening kick-off to give them a chance of fielding their Brazilian players.

The Reds asked for their clash on October 16 against Watford to be switched from 12.30pm to 7.45pm, with Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay barely 24 hours earlier.

According to The Telegraph, Watford opposed the move, arguing that with the date and time of the game announced in July, moving it now would invonvenience those who had made travel plans.

Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino now face missing the game unless Brazil release the trio before their clash with Uruguay, which is presumably very unlikely.

Liverpool have declined to comment but sources told The Telegraph the club were upset given the date and time of the Brazil clash had only been confirmed last month.

They are also said to have argued that the absence of South American players from the next round of Premier League games would devalue the competition.

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The World Cup qualifiers last month saw Premier League clubs refuse to release their South American stars due to coronavirus travel restrictions.

That almost led FIFA to punish the offending clubs and ban them from fielding those players for five days.

A deal was struck last week to avoid a repeat situation, with the Government lifting a ban on fully vaccinated players for 10 days upon their return to Britain.