Irvine warns reds over Euro strain
Albion boss Alan Irvine hopes to catch Liverpool's Euro-stars with a Champions League hangover when he returns to Merseyside on Saturday.
The Hawthorns head coach is hoping last night's trip to Basel in Group B of the Champions League leaves Brendan Rodgers' side under-prepared for their clash with the Baggies less than 72 hours later.
Albion will target a third straight Premier League victory when they travel to Anfield and Irvine hopes the quick turnaround between matches makes life tough for Rodgers.
The boss, who enjoyed three spells across Stanley Park with Everton, said: "It's something that is obviously a consideration.
"Does it make it harder for them to play a European game on a Wednesday night before playing us on a Saturday? I would have thought it probably does.
"How do they prepare for our game?
"We have more time to prepare for the game against Liverpool than they have to prepare for the game against us.
"But I think we would love to be in their position, going and playing in the Champions League.
"It's the price you have to pay if you are going to be a top team."
"Liverpool had an outstanding season last year, they got the reward of being in the Champions League and now they have to enjoy that but deal with the consequences of it, one of which is you get back from being in Switzerland late on a Wednesday night and you have got a game coming up on a Saturday.
"That can't be bad for us.
"But players know how to prepare for games now, and they know how to recover from games."
Liverpool will have the very best of sports science support."
