- Liverpool travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon
- Arne Slot is ready for his first kick-off after a Champions League match at 12.30 pm
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Arne Slot does not agree that his Liverpool side will struggle to perform in the 12.30 kick-off. Instead, he believes the challenge will come in the tough challenges of the Premier League.
The Dutchman’s assessment differs from the position of former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who famously spoke out against his team’s frequent selection for that matchday.
The Anfield club travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon for what will be Slot’s first experience of the early game after a Champions League match.
And despite admitting that the Premier League provides less ‘help’ to teams in European competition than the Eredivisie, he refused to use that as an excuse.
‘I don’t think it has much to do with the 12.30 kick-off. For me, every away game is difficult.’ He said this before the match against Crystal Palace. “Because we play at 12:30 so often, people talk about 12:30.
Arne Slot believes his team should have no problem performing in the early game on Saturday
Former boss Jurgen Klopp famously railed against Liverpool’s frequent selection ahead of the final match
‘I think we have to talk about an away game, because that is difficult. If 12:30 was a difficult time to perform, then I’m a very stupid manager because we train at 12 every day!
“I don’t see the idea that it’s so difficult to perform at that time.”
Klopp infamously took aim at the league and broadcasters earlier this year when he described the scheduling as a ‘crime’.
‘I was actually waiting for Amnesty International to go to them.’ He told reporters in May.
“I’d love to be part of that meeting when someone says, ‘Liverpool 12.30’ and the whole room erupts in laughter.”
Slot will be hoping his confidence doesn’t come back and bite him, with his team currently sitting high at the top of the Premier League with five wins from their six games.
Liverpool travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday where they beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the early game of the weekend in December 2023
The Reds’ 2-0 win over Bologna in midweek saw Slot make history as the manager who made the club’s best ever start. The Merseyside team meet a Palace side still looking for their first win this season.
Oliver Glasner’s side, who are 18th in the division, suffered defeat to Everton last time out.
