Liverpool’s first game following the departure of Jurgen Klopp will be an early kick-off at Portman Road on Saturday, 17 August. The Reds will be facing promoted Ipswich Town in their 2024-25 Premier League opener at 12:30 BST. Arne Slot, the new manager, will be stepping into the debate surrounding the early kick-off for his first game in English football. It remains to be seen whether Slot will share Klopp’s sentiments on the scheduling of matches, and he can expect questions on this matter in the lead up to the game against Ipswich Town.
Throughout Klopp’s time at Liverpool, 13.6% of the 331 Premier League matches he managed had an early kick-off time, the highest percentage for any club during that period. Klopp was known for his criticism of the Saturday lunchtime slot, often describing it as “absolutely insane” and a “crime”, even stating that he would no longer watch TNT Sports who broadcast the time slot. However, it is not clear whether Slot shares these views or if he will have a different approach to managing games with early kick-offs.
As Liverpool prepares for its first game under new management, fans and experts alike are eagerly anticipating how Slot will handle this particular aspect of team management. Will he stick with Klopp’s approach to scheduling games or will he take a different tack? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – Liverpool’s first game in the 2024-25 season promises to be an exciting affair with plenty of twists and turns along the way.