Liverpool boss Arne Slot responds to grueling Christmas Premier League schedule

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is looking forward to the hectic Premier League Christmas schedule.

While the majority of Europe takes a few weeks off, the Premier League action continues with teams set to play four games between Saturday's clash against Fulham and new year. They will also take on Southampton next week on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup, meaning Reds supporters are likely to see plenty of rotation in Slot's starting XI's in the coming weeks.

Having spent his entire coaching career in the Netherlands prior to replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, this will be Slot's first taste of navigating the busy Christmas schedule. Previously, the Liverpool boss would stick his feet up and take in a few Premier League games.

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However, on Boxing day this year, he will be standing on the touchline as Liverpool welcome Leicester City to Anfield - something which he admits he is looking forward to despite also adding a few days off for his players "would be definitely beneficial."

Speaking at his Friday morning press conference, Slot said: "I was always happy that in the Premier League the teams play [over Christmas]. When you’re off you’re always like ‘ah there’s no football on television' and then oh, there is, because in the Premier League they play. So I was always happy that the Premier League played. Now that you’re in it you think okay a few days or few weeks off… for the players would be definitely beneficial. But that’s not the situation.

"Before we played Girona we had to play Everton, and when that game was cancelled I thought ‘okay, maybe we have more energy now to play Girona', so it was a surprise to me that we didn’t have that energy. Maybe it’s a good thing that we play so many games.

"I’m looking forward to it. My family is coming over so Christmas day will be similar to normal, apart from last year I was in Dubai so there was a bit more sun. This year I’m here in Liverpool hoping to enjoy a home game against Leicester, which is a different way of spending Christmas, but it’s also something I’m looking forward to."

Liverpool.com says: "Managing the hectic Christmas schedule is just another test for Slot, who has passed pretty much every one he has faced so far during his time as Liverpool boss. Under the Dutchman, the Reds have won 19 of 22 games - an extraordinary feat given they added just Federico Chiesa to their squad this past summer."