Liverpool made a bold move by scheduling two friendly matches just four hours apart, aiming to maximize preparation time for the upcoming season.

It’s highly uncommon for a team to play two matches in a single day. However, Liverpool broke the norm by arranging two friendlies only four hours apart on August 11, 2024. This bold strategy, implemented by new coach Arne Slot, is intended to enhance the team’s preparation for the 2024/25 season.

What’s particularly noteworthy is the tight scheduling of these two friendlies. Liverpool will first face Sevilla at 18:30 on August 11 (Vietnam time), and then, just four hours later, they will take on Las Palmas at 23:00 the same day. Such a scheduling approach is truly rare in professional sports.

This decision has garnered significant attention and raised questions from both fans and experts. Why did Liverpool opt for this approach? How can they ensure the players’ health and performance with back-to-back matches?

Coach Arne Slot clarified that the intent was to provide as many players as possible with game time before the new season begins. By scheduling two matches in a single day, Slot can thoroughly evaluate the team’s condition, including those returning from vacation or injury.

The match against Sevilla, starting at 6:30 PM, will be open to the public, whereas the game against Las Palmas at 11:00 PM will be held behind closed doors, without spectators or media. This allows Slot the opportunity to test new tactics or utilize young players without the pressure of public scrutiny.

With a four-hour interval between the games, Liverpool can flexibly manage each player’s playing time. Those who participate in the first match can be given complete rest or only play briefly in the second game.

The second match against Las Palmas offers Slot a valuable chance to test young talent or reserve players, providing them with more game experience and an opportunity to showcase their abilities. It also allows the coach to evaluate the squad’s depth and explore different tactical options.

Playing two matches in one day can also help the team mentally and physically prepare for unexpected challenges during the season, such as handling a congested schedule with multiple games in a short period. This strategy is viewed as a smart way to simulate the high-pressure situations that teams may face during the actual season.