Arne Slot has joked he would have to be a ‘stupid manager’ to complain about 12:30pm kick-offs ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming clash.
The Reds take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in Saturday’s early clash – live on talkSPORT – less than 72 hours after their Champions League win over Bologna.
Slot‘s predecessor Jurgen Klopp had a particular hatred for the 12:30pm slot.
So much so, that the German vowed to never watch TNT Sports again as he hit out at the hectic fixture scheduling.
He also claimed that it was bordering on a ‘crime’ that Liverpool were having to play the early Saturday slot frequently following midweek matches.
As he prepared to step down at Anfield, Klopp raged: “They dare to give us Thursday-Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday 12.30 – it’s a crime! I was waiting for Amnesty International to go to them.
“I would like to be part of that meeting when someone says, ‘Liverpool 12:30,’ and the whole room is bursting into laughter.”
Klopp added: “In the whole world, we have the quickest turnaround between games. That is absolutely insane.
“But they [TNT] are still happy and they like subscribers. You can take me off that list!”
But Slot has insisted he has no issue with the time, stating his team train around the same time every day anyway, so they are used to it an early start.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday, the Dutchman said: “I think the league [Eredivisie] I come from, they are more aware and try to help teams in Europe.
“But to be fair to English FA, our schedule is tight so it is difficult.
4
4
“It has a lot to do with TV stations, it feels like I do an interview every day. I think they can pick a team for 12:30pm, so they choose Liverpool.
“People talk about 12:30pm, we talk about difficult away games.
“If 12:30pm was a difficult time to perform then I am a stupid manager because I train every day at midday!”
Slot will be hoping to continue his stunning start to his Liverpool career, where he has guided his side to the top of the table.
He created Liverpool history earlier in the week by becoming the first Reds manager to win their first eight of nine matches in all competitions.
While Liverpool have won five top-flight matches this term, Palace are yet to taste victory from their six outings.
4
