Strip away the dramatic headlines about breaking tradition or going against Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot’s decision to take Christmas Day off this season comes down to one thing: practicality. Under Klopp, Liverpool played six St Stephen’s Day fixtures. The only non-covid season they did not have a fixture on the day was 2016. This year, however, the Premier League’s decision to schedule only one match on December 26 allowed Slot a choice dictated not by principle but by logistics. Liverpool play Wolves on December 27.

Source: Irish Examiner December 24, 2025 10:55 UTC