Arne Slot has no problem with his first Premier League game in charge of Liverpool being a 12.30 kick off - and joked that Jurgen Klopp may have had a hand in the decision.
New Reds boss Slot will take his side to Portman Road to face newly promoted Ipswich Town on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, with the game picked by TNT Sports for the Saturday lunchtime fixture.
Former Liverpool boss Klopp was a frequent critic of playing matches at that time, with Liverpool given more early kick-offs than any other side during the German's time in charge.
"They've told me it's going to be 12.30… from what I know, Jurgen complained a lot about this so probably they thought, with Jurgen being out let's put them at 12.30 again!' Slot told Liverpool's official website.
"No, it's different to a normal 12.30 because it's not after a game in Europe. Looking forward to it. A promoted team so it's going to be special for them as well.
Jurgen Klopp's approach with Robert Lewandowski bodes well for Darwin Nunez
"I think every team might prefer a home game to start with, but we're going to face Ipswich and we are looking forward to that."
Slot was unveiled as the new Liverpool manager on Wednesday (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)After facing Ipswich Slot's first Anfield game in charge will see Brentford head to Merseyside, and the Dutchman is looking forward to kicking off the Reds' new era. "Every new club you go to and it's your first home game, it's special," he said.
"I remember it being special at Feyenoord and I'm expecting it to be really special here in Liverpool as well. But like I said, the first thing I'm going to look at is the first training session we have and then afterwards all the sessions that come after and games we will play.
The Reds boss will kick off his reign with a trip to Ipswich (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)"We have to take this really seriously to be the best possible team we can be at the first game at Ipswich and the second game, the home game against Brentford.
"I think everybody would tell you in football you go game by game, and the first and most important one is Ipswich.
"But if I say this and the players would listen to this, they would get the wrong impression of me, because the friendly games are really important for us to be in the best possible position for the Ipswich game."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
