Arne Slot aims thinly-veiled dig at Jurgen Klopp with ‘stupid manager’ claim

Arne Slot has reacted to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s criticism of noon kick-offs, as the Reds prepare to travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Arne Slot has made a significant split from Liverpool’s previous manager, Jurgen Klopp, by arguing that noon kick-offs are acceptable.

Klopp constantly criticized the Saturday schedule and had multiple disagreements with TNT Sport, which broadcasts such games. The German stepped down as Liverpool manager at the end of last season, and Slot took over.

However, the Dutchman does not share the same disdain for the Saturday kick-off schedule, which was agreed upon by all 20 Premier League teams. Instead, he joked that he starts his training sessions at 12 p.m. every day, implying that he would be considered’stupid’ if he complained about midday start times.

“I believe the league I come from is more attentive and tries to aid clubs in Europe, although to be fair to the English FA, our calendar is tight, so it is tough. It has a lot to do with TV stations; I feel like I’m doing an interview every day. I believe they may select a team for 12:30pm, thus they chose Liverpool,” Slot said.

Each away game is challenging. Ten of 18 road games did not result in a victory (last week). People speak about 12:30 p.m.; we talk about tough away games. If 12:30pm was a tough time to perform, I am a bad boss because I train every day at noon!”

Klopp primarily targeted midday kick-offs when his team had played the previous Wednesday or the Premier League was returning from an international break. In September 2023, he described the choice to play Liverpool in that position as a “joke.”

“We have four international breaks by March, with two of them starting at 12.30 p.m. already. If I say anything about it, the world will say, ‘He’s complaining again’. This is a joke. We had four guys in South America that I hadn’t seen yet. “We play in 24 hours,” he explained.

“But that is how it is, and we can’t alter it. We will never change it, no matter who we talk to. The TV channel now goes under a different name, but nothing changes. Why should I bring up something that doesn’t matter to them? We didn’t think about it.

“Playing at that time is not an issue if it is a normal week, as we have always stated. It’s simple to adjust. The only issue is a lack of recuperation time. Someone like you sits there and gives me the impression, ‘So what precisely is the problem with 12.30?’.”

“Is it because it’s lunchtime, or is it due to the short time between games and the stress of the travel? Make up your own mind about it this time, without a source.”

Slot has already led Liverpool in a 12.30pm kickoff, when the club defeated newly promoted Ipswich Town on the first day. They play Palace at Selhurst Park after defeating Bologna in the Champions League on Wednesday.