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Liverpool's first-team players will have a rare festive break with their families this year after manager Arne Slot decided to break with tradition and give his squad Christmas Day off
Liverpool's first-team squad will enjoy an uncommon Christmas Day at home with their loved ones this year after manager Arne Slot departed from the tradition established by previous bosses including Jurgen Klopp and chose to give his players December 25 off.
The Reds are usually obliged to train on Christmas morning ahead of the traditional Boxing Day fixture, but a peculiar scheduling quirk this season means they can remain at home instead.
This year, just one fixture is slated for Boxing Day, with all remaining matches distributed across the weekend of December 27 and 28 – a circumstance the Premier League credits to UEFA expanding the quantity of European fixtures.
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"There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions – which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup.
"This ultimately left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competition – fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380-match competition since 1995. With fewer weekends to work with, the league is bound by how the calendar falls."
Liverpool is scheduled to face Wolves at Anfield on December 27, offering Slot the opportunity to grant his squad and coaching staff an unusual Christmas respite.
The choice has been warmly welcomed by the players, with skipper Virgil van Dijk noting that it would be "special" to spend the day at home for the first time during his Liverpool tenure.
"We have Christmas Day off which is very nice of the staff," the 34 year old remarked following Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Spurs on Saturday. "It's a nice change. I'll be at home Christmas Eve too and I'm really looking forward to it.
"The staff always have a particular plan for a game. It works well for everyone. It's special to be off on Christmas Day. I don't think it's happened in my Premier League career so far. I'll make the most of being with my family and enjoy it all."
Liverpool will reconvene on Boxing Day, with recovery sessions planned earlier in the week.
After Saturday's triumph, the Reds are presently on a six-match unbeaten run and occupy fifth position in the Premier League ahead of their encounter with Wolves, sitting 10 points behind table-toppers Arsenal, whom they will meet at the Emirates on January 8.
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