Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp unhappy with midday kickoff against Swansea City

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hit out at the scheduling of Sunday's midday kickoff against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.

Klopp and his players did not return to the UK until 4am on Friday after losing 1-0 to Villarreal in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final in Spain.

The German coach has previously expressed his frustration at the fixture scheduling in England, and this weekend's match has caused him trouble.

"Sunday at 12 o'clock, I can't believe that," Klopp said in Friday's press conference. "I think no-one in this room thinks it is usual after the games we've had that we should start at 12. We could have started at two or four, so four hours more and that sounds absolutely okay.

"A few years ago with Dortmund we played at Athens and they cancelled their game so they could beat Dortmund in the Champions League. I am not sure who made the decision about letting us play at 12 but we can't change it.

"I don't want to make headlines. I don't want to come from Germany and tell people how it works or how it is. Maybe for a few people it is funny but it is not really funny. Maybe it was my fault, I have no idea if I could jump in or not but I could not imagine before that something like this could happen. I am seven months here so if there is an opportunity for me to fight for something like this then you can be sure I will do it."

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five league games.