Arne Slot delivers verdict on Premier League lunchtime kick-offs with 'stupid' Liverpool claim | OneFootball

Liverpool travel to Crystal Palace for early kick-off on Saturday

Arne Slot has insisted Liverpool should have no issues with the lunchtime kick-off in the Premier League, joking he would be a “stupid manager” if they did as that is when his side train.

The Reds began their Premier League season on the road against Ipswich in the early kick-off and they get this weekend’s action underway on Saturday with a trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace.

“I think the league I come from, they are more aware and try to help teams in Europe,” Slot said at his press conference on Friday.

“But to be fair to English FA our schedule is tight so it is difficult. 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.

Jurgen Klopp regularly voiced his frustration at the TV scheduling

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

“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!"

It has been a positive start to Slot’s time in the Liverpool dugout, with the club sitting top of the Premier League after six matches.

The Dutchman has, though, had to regularly contend with questions over the futures of three of his first-team stars, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk all out of contract at the end of the season.

Asked for an update ahead of the trip to Palace, Slot laughed: “Contracts?!

“I was hoping you didn't use that word. It's the same boring answer as always and I could really understand if you ask me this every two weeks but every other day.

“People think I am boring with the same answer. Try asking after the international break.”