Klopp has made his feelings clear on Arne Slot's 'criminal' first Liverpool game

18 June 2024 , 08:00

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Jurgen Kloppwas not a fan of an early kick-off when Liverpool boss (Image: PA)

Arne Slot will begin his career as Liverpool boss with a 12.30pm kick-off - a time his predecessor described as a "crime".

The Reds take on newly-promoted Ipswich on the opening day of their season and all eyes will be on the Dutchman as he starts a new chapter on Merseyside following nine years of success under Klopp.

But he'll have the sympathy of the man he replaced at the helm, as Klopp has previously made it very clear just how much he hates early kick-offs, referring to it in 2018 as the "breakfast slot".

In May 2024, he took it one step further, describing the Premier League schedule as "absolutely insane" during a Liverpool press conference. He added: "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."

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Klopp concluded that his view was nothing more than "little advice from an old man on the way out". He added that Liverpool being asked to play "Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday 12.30pm, is a crime".

Slot was announced as Klopp's replacement this summer after the German announced he was standing down back in January. The Dutchman formally became boss on June 1.

Liverpool's 2024/25 Premier League fixtures in full:

17/08: Ipswich (a) - 12.30pm

24/08: Brentford (h)

31/08: Manchester United (a)

14/09: Nottingham Forest (h)

21/09: Bournemouth (h)

28/09: Wolves (a)

05/10: Crystal Palace (a)

19/10: Chelsea (h)

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26/10: Arsenal (a)

02/11: Brighton (h)

09/11: Aston Villa (h)

23/11: Southampton (a)

30/11: Manchester City (h)

04/12: Newcastle (a)

07/12: Everton (a)

14/12: Fulham (h)

21/12: Tottenham (a)

26/12: Leicester (h)

29/12: West Ham (a)

04/01: Manchester United (h)

14/01: Nottingham Forest (a)

18/01: Brentford (a)

25/01: Liverpool (h)

01/02: Bournemouth (a)

15/02: Wolves (h)

22/02: Manchester City (a)

26/02: Newcastle United (h)

08/03: Southampton (h)

15/03: Aston Villa (a)

02/04: Everton (h)

05/04: Fulham (a)

12/04: West Ham (h)

19/04: Leicester (a)

26/04: Tottenham (h)

03/05: Chelsea (a)

10/05: Arsenal (h)

18/05: Brighton (a)

25/05: Crystal Palace (h)

Jake Polden