Liverpool will be forced to play two games in the space of 46 hours over the New Year after the Premier League rejected their request for a late kick-off.
Anfield officials had hoped that their January 2 trip to Sunderland would be moved to an evening start instead of the scheduled 3pm start time.
BT Sport’s rescheduling of the New Years Eve clash between the Reds and title rivals Manchester City to a 5.30pm kick-off was at the heart of the request.
But the plea has fallen on deaf ears, meaning that Jurgen Klopp’s side will have less than 46 hours to prepare for the game at the Stadium of Light.
City will also face the same problem in the aftermath of the Anfield encounter, although their game with Burnley will be played on home soil.
Last month Klopp railed against the decision to reschedule the December 31 game with Pep Guardiola’s side for TV broadcasting purposes.
He said: “Forty-eight hours between two games – how does this work? How do you prepare a team for this?
“Do you say ‘Only 50% against City because we have Sunderland on Monday’. It doesn’t sound like it is right. Everyone is asking: ‘Why is England not too successful in big tournaments?’
“Ask what other big countries are doing at this time of year – they have their legs on the sofa and are watching English football.”