Gary Lineker has praised Slot's "amazing start" to life at Liverpool, but also sympathised with the Dutchman's more recent comments on fixture scheduling amid the busier Champions League campaign

Slot has criticised the scheduling of Premier League fixtures(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Gary Lineker has sympathised with Arne Slot's concerns and injury woes after the Liverpool manager questioned the fixture scheduling for teams playing in Europe.

Liverpool had defeated Bologna 2-0 in their second Champions League group game on Wednesday, October 2 – only to be greeted with yet another 12:30pm Saturday kick-off, this time away to Crystal Palace.



This gave Slot's men just two days to prepare for the tricky game, which they won thanks to a Diogo Jota goal in the ninth minute.

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However, both midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and goalkeeper Alisson picked up injuries at Selhurst Park, with the formidable shot-stopper now potentially facing a period of up to six weeks on the sidelines due to a hamstring issue.

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Despite his half-time substitution at Selhurst Park, Mac Allister's abductor injury doesn't seem as serious as first feared, as he headed out on international duty with Argentina during the current break.

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While Slot didn't seem to be fussed by the midday kick-off ahead of the Palace match, his attitude seems to have changed since seeing his team suffer injuries.

Before the game, the Dutchman said: "If 12:30pm was a difficult time to perform then I am a stupid manager because I train every day at midday!"

However, after the 1-0 win and injury blows, the Liverpool manager had changed his tune.

Maybe it is also bad luck, I don't know."

Slot's main goal is to keep his team as fit and healthy as possible(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

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Lineker discussed this change in opinion on the Rest is Football podcast alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, as he said: "I thought it was quite fun that Arne Slot the day before the game said about after playing in Europe, then having to come back and be the early, playing the early kick off.

"[He said] 'it doesn't make any difference, it shouldn't matter, it's nothing'.

But it was quite interesting."

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The former Tottenham striker also praised Slot's "amazing start" to life at Liverpool, winning nine of his first 10 games in charge – only losing at Anfield to Nottingham Forest in September.

It was an away victory again, they look very organised."

The Reds will be coming back off international duty to a tricky home fixture against Chelsea on Sunday, before heading to Germany next Wednesday in the Champions League to play RB Leipzig.

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The tough run will not be getting any easier, with an away trip to Arsenal later in October, and then a trip down to play Brighton in the Carabao Cup on October 30.


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