Liverpool's first-team players will have a rare Christmas Day off this year after manager Arne Slot broke with tradition by granting them a festive break. The squad is usually called in for training on Christmas morning as part of preparations for the traditional Boxing Day fixture, but a quirk in the calendar has allowed Slot to give his players the day at home.
This season, only one Premier League match is scheduled for Boxing Day, with most fixtures moved to the weekend of December 27-28. The league blamed the expansion of European club competitions, which has reduced the number of available weekends for domestic fixtures. Liverpool face Wolves at Anfield on December 27 at 3pm, giving Slot scope to hand his squad time off.
Captain Virgil van Dijk expressed his appreciation for the decision, noting it was the first time in his Liverpool career he would spend Christmas Day at home. “We have Christmas Day off which is very nice of the staff,” he said after the 2-1 win at Tottenham. “It’s a nice change. I’ll be at home Christmas Eve too and I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Reds will reconvene on Boxing Day for recovery work, having won their last six matches. They currently sit fifth in the Premier League, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal, whom they face on January 8. Slot's move has gone down well with the squad, who are enjoying a rare break in the festive schedule.
