Arne Slot has taken to allowing his players time away with their families during week-long breaks in the schedule, with journalists now questioning his methods.
In the buildup to Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Man United, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister travelled to Italy to enjoy a break with their families.
They were not the only ones, of course, with Slot granting his players time away from the AXA Training Centre following their victory over Crystal Palace.
And with it resulting in another poor performance as Liverpool lost their 19th game of the season – a record for defeats in a single campaign this century – his approach when given a full week to prepare has been questioned.
In his column for The Athletic, James Pearce criticised a “lethargic” response after players “enjoyed mini breaks in Europe”:
“It’s fair to ask questions about the preparations.
“A lot of the players had enjoyed mini breaks in Europe after being given some time off after the win over Crystal Palace.
“If Slot thought that a breather would do them good then he was mistaken. Instead they were lethargic and lacked intensity.”
Writing for This Is Anfield, David Lynch echoed Pearce’s comments while pondering if Slot was now allowing “too much time off”:
“Once again, Slot sent his charges out on holiday this week before they returned to the AXA to prepare to face Manchester United.
“And once again, they spent the first half looking unprepared and less sharp than the opposition, who tore into every challenge.
“There is sense in looking to manage load given the ridiculous calendar the players face these days, but it is surely fair to ask whether Liverpool are not giving their squad too much time off.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot speaks with Andy Robertson during the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Man Utd won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
And for the Liverpool Echo, Paul Gorst acknowledged the “growing perception” among fans that Slot and his players are not making the most of an “entire week to work”:
“After having the entire week to work on the AXA Training Centre pitches, the abject, error-strewn first 45 was a tough watch.
“And while Slot will argue that it wasn’t an issue when results were going well last term, the sight of the players once more jetting off to various city-break destinations at the start of the week is starting to rankle many supporters.
“Fairly or not, that is the growing perception.
“All managers will tell you how the ability to have a full, uninterrupted week to prepare for games is ideal but this was another example of how they struggled to show what they had been working on behind the scenes.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot after the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Manchester United won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While not directly questioning Slot’s training programme, the Times‘ Paul Joyce reflected on Mo Salah‘s fears over a loss of Liverpool’s dressing room culture and “whether anyone is actually listening” to the head coach:
“This was an assignment demanding a backs-against-the-wall display, to dig in and grow into proceedings.
“Instead, Slot lamented his players ‘not picking up the second balls’ in those early passages when the chance to set the tone was squandered.
“It was enough to wonder just what is said in the moments before kick-off and, more importantly, whether anyone is actually listening.”
Liverpool are not in action again until Saturday, when they host Chelsea in a 12.30pm kickoff which offers another chance to edge closer to next season’s Champions League.
It will certainly be interesting to see if any of Slot’s players share photos from abroad or on private jets in the meantime.
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