Liverpool boss Arne Slot breaks tradition by going against Jurgen Klopp behind the scenes
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17:13, Mon, Dec 22, 2025 Updated: 17:20, Mon, Dec 22, 2025 Arne Slot has gone against Jurgen Klopp by giving his players Christmas Day off (Image: Getty)Liverpool's first-team squad will savour an unexpected Christmas Day at home with their loved ones after manager Arne Slot abandoned the tradition upheld by previous bosses, including Jurgen Klopp, of calling players in for festive training. It is a situation the Premier League attributes to UEFA's expanded European competition programme.
Read our Privacy Policy"The Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an important tradition in English football," the league declared when unveiling October's festive fixture list."There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions – which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup."This ultimately left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competition – fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380-match competition since 1995. With fewer weekends to work with, the league is bound by how the calendar falls."Liverpool's clash with Wolves at Anfield on December 27 has allowed Slot to grant his squad and backroom team a precious Christmas Day break.The decision has been warmly received by the players, with captain Virgil van Dijk describing the prospect of spending the festive period at home for the first time during his Anfield tenure as "special".Slot has managed to turn Liverpool's fortunes around in recent weeks (Image: Getty)Following Liverpool's 2-1 triumph over Spurs on Saturday, the 34-year-old expressed his delight: "We have Christmas Day off which is very nice of the staff."It's a nice change.
It's special to be off on Christmas Day."I don't think it's happened in my Premier League career so far. I'll make the most of being with my family and enjoy it all."The Reds will reassemble on Boxing Day, with recovery sessions scheduled for earlier in the week.Liverpool currently enjoy a six-match unbeaten streak following Saturday's result and occupy fifth position in the Premier League table ahead of their encounter with Wolves, sitting 10 points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.