'Everybody is tired': Liverpool legend blasts the evolved Champions League format

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has blasted UEFA's new Champions League model on the cusp of the tournament's restart, claiming the player's opinions don't matter.

This season, the UEFA Champions League has grown from 32 to 36 teams, and the competition has changed from separate four-team groups to one giant league format.

With four extra teams in the competition, the group phase has grown from six games to eight games, stretching the initial league format to the end of January after it finished in December in the previous years.

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Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was famous for highlighting the hectic schedule during his time at Liverpool, and Allison has taken the mantle of standing up for the players.

According to The Independent, Allison said: "For the supporters, it is amazing. More games, more bigger games, big teams against each other." He added: "Sometimes nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games, so maybe our opinion does not matter."

"Everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody is tired of that. But we have to bring those kinds of things on side and stay focused on the big challenge we have here."

The Brazilian international was asked how many matches he believes should be on the season's calendar. He said, "Whether the number is 30 or 40, it is a matter of sitting down together and listening to all the parts because we understand we have the media and TV."

"What we want is to give our best for the football; if you are tired, you cannot compete at a high level." He continued: "I want to give my best in all the games I play, but we need a solution. It does not look like we are close to a good solution for football's sake and players' sake."

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Manchester City and Chelsea will be the English representatives at the new-look Club World Cup, and those teams could face a schedule that started on the 17th of August and could finish on the 13th of July.

European Championship winner and Manchester City midfielder Rodri said this summer that he would struggle to keep up with the ever-growing fixture schedule.

According to the Daily Mail, Rodri said, "You need your physical condition to play, but the head is important as well. People only see the game, but there's the pre-game, preparation, travel, and time away in the hotel. You're 'in' the game. Sincerely, something needs to be done."

"There is more and more (games), and it looks like it isn't about to stop. You have to take care of the players. I am very conscious of that. I have reached a point where I can't (do it) anymore."

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