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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will lead his side's defence of the Premier League title next season(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Arne Slot will likely be eager to sidestep a 12.30pm kick-off for the opening game of his second Premier League season.

Last year, the Dutch manager got his first taste of English football with an early start against newly promoted Ipswich Town, ultimately leading his Liverpool side to a 2-0 victory without having to mention the contentious match time.

Slot's predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, was open about finding these scheduling decisions bothersome, having regularly vented about the inconvenience an early kick-off caused during his nine-year tenure.

As all eyes turn to the release of the 2025/26 Premier League fixture list on Wednesday at 9am, there'll surely be hope from the Reds boss that history won't repeat itself with another early match time – something Klopp once labelled a "crime".

Given the statistical evidence, Klopp's grievances seem reasonable; under his leadership, Liverpool featured in 45 early afternoon fixtures – topping the charts across the Premier League.

During his final year at the club, Liverpool were subjected to six of those fixtures – more than any other team and far outstripping the mere two experienced by Slot in his debut season, reports the Mirror.

The German maestro didn't mince his words when criticising the league schedule in his last campaign, branding it as "absolutely insane" in one memorable press conference.

Article continues belowArne Slot began his Liverpool career with a 12:30pm kick-off(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

Klopp quipped: "I was actually 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.

"I had a discussion only the other day with colleagues from our favourite TV channel, which I will definitely not watch again, TNT."

He further emphasised that requiring Liverpool to play "Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday 12.30pm, is a crime."

Jurgen Klopp's disdain for 12:30pm kick-offs were known(Image: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the commencement of a new season is something that Mohamed Salah appears to relish, having scored a record nine goals on the opening matchday of the English top-flight season.

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Salah has consistently delivered goals on the first day of the season, with the exception of the 2023 clash against Chelsea, where he provided an assist for Luis Diaz's goal in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool fans will no doubt be eager to learn who they're up against in the opener this time around.

And they'll be especially keen to see when they head to Everton's new home for the away Merseyside derby.

With Slot's men looking to defend their crown, a positive start to the season is essential to show the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal that Liverpool mean business once again.


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