Arne Slot has revealed the secret to Liverpool’s success this season: a good night’s sleep.
No, the Reds boss is not the new star of an advert for Dreams or Bensons for Beds — although the commercial teams at those bed-sellers could be on to a winner here. He believes that an uninterrupted, comfortable kip with the family nearby is the best fuel for matchday.
One of the biggest changes Slot implemented at Liverpool was to scrap Jurgen Klopp’s policy of the squad sleeping at a hotel the night before all matches. The Dutchman is also giving his team more days off to prioritise precious family time.
It is easy to pinpoint as a reason for Liverpool’s successes so far this season and he said: ‘The people who have more knowledge than me tell me that you always sleep better in your own bed.
‘Sleep is a very important part of getting the best possible performance. There is the argument for them to be at home with their families. But also being at home makes them better prepared for a game in the opinion of people who tell me about this.
‘If you use common sense, everyone can understand that you sleep better in your own bed than a hotel bed.’
Arne Slot has revealed that his secret to Liverpool’s success is to allow the players more time with their families
It is certainly paying off with the Reds flying high at the top of the league and in the running for a quadruple
Jurgen Klopp previously preferred for all his players to stay in a hotel the night before a game
In terms of the policy change, Slot added: ‘I cannot compare with how it was but it is definitely a strategy. I see them as human beings. We are working very hard here at the AXA or if we are playing a game… there was a great example yesterday of how hard my players work.
‘But if you want to just keep on going for such a long season because they never have a week or two weeks off, then I think at certain moments they have to be at home as well. Be a father, be a husband.
‘If you are only a footballer for 15, 16, 17 years with only three weeks off during the summer, it would not be human. If you are only a father or husband for three weeks of the year, that would not be human.’
It is certainly paying off, with Liverpool only having two injuries going into Sunday’s trip to Plymouth.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss out with a thigh injury though he is expected to be in contention to return against Everton in the Merseyside Derby on Wednesday, should Liverpool decide to risk him at Goodison Park.
Tyler Morton is the only other injury as the England Under 21 international has a shoulder problem. It means young midfielder James McConnell could get a chance to shine at Plymouth.
