Liverpool manager Arne Slot has wished every Reds fan a Merry Christmas, and the Dutchman has vowed to keep his team working hard this season.

Slot has enjoyed a successful start to life at Anfield, with his team topping the Premier League and Champions League tables heading into the New Year. Their most recent victory was a barnstorming 6-3 away win at Tottenham to extend their lead over second-place Chelsea to four points after the Blues were held to a 0-0 draw at Everton.

Up next is relegation battlers Leicester City, who Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy now manages. "I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our supporters a Happy Christmas," Slot said in a festive message to Liverpool fans.

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"I have still only been at Liverpool for six months or so but in that short space of time I have learned very quickly why our fans are regarded all around the word as being very special. The support that you have given me, my staff and the players is a big part of what we do and what we are trying to do.

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"Obviously, this applies most of all in the stadium on matchdays, but there have also been other ways that we have felt your support even when we are not at Anfield, so it is very important for me that you know how much this is appreciated.

“I hope that you have enjoyed the football that the team has played so far and you have my word that we will keep on working as hard as we possibly can to keep on improving. There is a lot of football still to be played, so hopefully, the second half of the season can be as good - if not even better - than the first half.

“On a personal note, I would also like to wish you and your loved ones what I wish for myself and my loved ones as we approach every New Year, that is good health and good times.”

Slot is expecting a challenging game against the Foxes, having managed against Van Nistelrooy in the Dutch Eredivisie before both found jobs in England at Liverpool and Man Utd, respectively.

Slot added: "Leicester will see this spell as a chance to push themselves up the table, and for this reason, they will come to Anfield looking to make life as difficult as they possibly can for us.

“I also know from experience how tough it can be playing against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s teams and my expectation is that Leicester will increasingly start to play in his image the longer they get to work with him. This adds to the challenge that we will face, but as with every other challenge we have faced already this season, it is one that we should look forward to.”