Is there anything more likely to slow down time than an international break?

Watching your country in action isn’t always the often painted chore, especially when a World Cup is coming up. But when international football halts the season for a fortnight – as has been the case since the introduction of the FIFA calendar – it can certainly be frustrating.

Not least for Liverpool fans who have watched their side drag themselves in the Premier League title race and hold out hope for an unprecedented treble. The momentum, still as important under Jurgen Klopp, risks being halted.

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The Reds boss has previously suspected his side have been given a bit of a rough ride when it comes to scheduling matches after international breaks. The evidence suggests he might be right.

Since his very first game in charge of Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur more than five years ago, Klopp has overseen 25 previous international breaks at Anfield. Meanwhile, the Reds have faced the top six rivals on 11 occasions, while the remaining fixtures have included two Merseyside derbies. Indeed, next Saturday’s visit to struggling Watford is the eighth time in the last 18 games after an international break that Liverpool have kicked off the weekend.

But despite all the concerns over how the international break can disrupt preparations and threaten players’ fitness, Liverpool have lost just one of their 25 matches after the break under Klopp.

The Reds have faced Tottenham four times – drawing 0-0 at White Hart Lane in Klopp’s opener in 2015, held 1-1 in the return in 2016 and winning 2-1 at Wembley and at home in 2018/ 19 – and Manchester United on three occasions, all of which ended in a stalemate.

Manchester City were beaten 4-1 at the Etihad in 2015, while Liverpool’s only defeat in that stretch was the 5-0 thrashing against Pep Guardiola’s side at the start of 2017/18. Even then, that loss owed a lot to Sadio Mane’s dismissal in the first half. Arsenal were beaten at both the Emirates and Anfield last year, while Everton were beaten at home and last season saw a 2-2 draw at Goodison.

Elsewhere, Leicester City (twice), Newcastle United and Southampton were beaten at home, Saints drew at home in 2016, while Liverpool won at Crystal Palace in 2018 and 2019 and at Huddersfield Town and Watford in 2018/19. They also beat Leeds United home and away, as they secured a 5-0 victory at Watford in October, despite the absence of their South American contingent.