Liverpool is about to enter what could prove to be a pivotal period in the Premier League season.

The Reds face a remarkable five matches in just 15 days starting on Wednesday with the short trip to Everton. Then it’s Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on Sunday before a trip to Aston Villa next Wednesday.

The month finishes with a clash against Manchester City at the Etihad on 23 February before Liverpool hosts Newcastle United three days later. The packed 15-day period encompasses over 13 percent of Liverpool’s Premier League season and includes matches against three of the current top eight in the division.

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What makes that run even more peculiar is that following the Newcastle encounter it’s then just one Premier League match for Liverpool in 33 days. But why is this the case and how has this unusual fixture schedule emerged?

Fixture changes explained

When the fixture list came out last summer only the three of those games - Wolves, City and Newcastle were scheduled. The midweeks of 12 and 19 February were originally kept blank in case Liverpool had finished in the Champions League play-off positions. Had it done so, like Manchester City, Liverpool’s fixture pile-up might have reached unprecedented levels.

Instead, the Reds topping the group freed up those spots for Premier League games. The Everton match was originally scheduled to be played in December but had to be rearranged due to adverse weather conditions and slots in on Wednesday, while the Villa trip was planned for 15 March but had to be rescheduled following Liverpool’s progression to the Carabao Cup final. It will be played against Newcastle at Wembley on 16 March.

March fixtures explained

March looks particularly blank at present with just one match scheduled for the month, however, more will be added.

The first weekend of March had to be set aside for the FA Cup fifth round, something which doesn’t concern Liverpool due to its elimination at the hands of Plymouth Argyle last weekend. The Champions League then returns with the last-16 fixtures to be played on 4/5 & 11/12 March. The Reds will play one of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest - with the opponents to be confirmed on Friday 21 February.

In between those Champions League matches is a home game against Southampton on 8 March, while after the European double header Liverpool takes on Newcastle in the cup final.

That marks a pause in club football for two weeks for the international break and returns with the FA Cup quarter-finals. Premier League football is finally back at the start of April with a round of midweek games over as Liverpool hosts Everton.

Full fixture break down

12 Feb: Everton (A), 16 Feb: Wolves (H)
19 Feb: Villa (A), 23 Feb: City (A)
26 Feb: Newcastle (H), 1/2 Mar: FA Cup 5R
4/5 Mar: Champions League L16, 8 Mar: Southampton (H)
11/12 Mar: Champions League L16, 16 Mar: Carabao Cup final
17 Mar: International break
24 Mar: International break, 29/30 Mar: FA Cup QF
1/2 Apr: Everton (H), 5/6 Apr: Fulham (A)