Arne Slot, his staff and the Liverpool squad will not be at the AXA Training Centre two days before their trip to West Ham, with a day off granted amid their current crisis.
Slot held his pre-match press conference at 3pm on Thursday, in a departure from his usual routine of addressing the media on a Friday morning.
This comes with players and staff given the day off as part of their preparations for the trip to West Ham on Sunday.
Why Liverpool aren’t training two days before a game
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, November 3, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It is not the first time Slot has implemented this schedule, having taken a similar approach before the 2-0 win away to Man City in February for example.
And speaking in January, Slot revealed his outlook on rest days before fixtures, telling reporters: “If possible, we always prefer to have them off three days before a game, it’s not always possible, but we try.”
Liverpool’s medical staff carefully manage not only the physical workload on players but also the mental toll in a hectic fixture list.
Of course the decision will attract more scrutiny given the ongoing run of nine defeats in 12 games, along with questions over whether Slot should be sacked.
It means Liverpool will only train properly for one day before travelling to London.
The squad will resume work at the AXA Training Centre on Saturday, by which point Slot is hopeful Florian Wirtz can rejoin his teammates after injury.
Wirtz is one of the few players expected to report to Kirkby on Friday, with the midfielder set for his final day of rehabilitation and likely to work alongside the likes of Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley.
Hugo Ekitike‘s timetable may be adjusted given the striker picked up a back problem during the 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.
Liverpool’s current injury situation
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 9, 2025: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz walks out before the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Wirtz is slated to return to training on Saturday, Liverpool still have six others either ruled out of the clash with West Ham or at least considered doubts.
Frimpong and Bradley are certain to miss out along with long-term absentees Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns.
Alisson is fit to return after missing the loss to PSV through illness, while a decision will be made on whether Ekitike is able to take part.
Slot has revealed in recent press conferences that both Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate are carrying fitness issues but neither are considered doubts for the weekend.