LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers reignited calls yesterday for the Football Association to help English teams compete in Europe by rescheduling fixtures.

After Tuesday’s dismal night, England’s top four teams have won just one match out of six and the inquest once again started into why England’s best are continually being outdone in European competitions.

Should this trend continue, England could lose a Champions League place to Italy due to their co-efficient and Rodgers believes the FA holds the key to help ease the demands the Premier League brings.

“The competition in the Premier League is like no other if you speak to the players and managers who have worked in Europe and then come here,” he said.

“The intensity and physicality of the games is much greater for the English teams than it is for any other team in Europe.

“I think we can do more to support teams in Europe. It happens with the other federations in other countries, they really help.

“Porto, who played last night (Tuesday), played on Friday so they got permission to move their game which keeps them fresh.”

The combative nature of the Premier League, the packed fixtures and the increased quality of sides means there are no easy fixtures on a Saturday afternoon, which Rodgers sees as key reasons as to why English teams are doing worse.

“The intensity, the way it is played, the demands on the players — in other countries some of the big teams in European leagues can change five, six or seven players and still win the game and put out a really strong team for the next game,” he added.

“It doesn’t happen in this country. The physicality of the Premier League is like no other.

“I think big teams abroad can win games at 70 per cent and conserve their energy — there is no game in the Premier League where you can do that.

“It is something we have to cope with and we respect that challenge but it means you really have to monitor and get the best out of the players you have available.”