Liverpool’s first wave of players reported for the official first day of pre-season on Tuesday, with fitness tests and meet-and-greets on the agenda.
The AXA Training Centre is playing host to the first week of Liverpool’s pre-season before the squad head off on a three-stop tour of the United States.
Fifteen fit senior players reported to the training ground, while five continued to recover from injury.
Liverpool’s Day 1 Pre-Season Squad
Goalkeepers: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman, Armin Pecsi
Defenders: Milos Kerkez, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Jeremy Jacquet, Jeremie Frimpong
Midfielders: Trey Nyoni, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, James McConnell, Dominik Szoboszlai
Forwards: Federico Chiesa, Rio Ngumoha
The first day focused on fitness testing in the gym and on the outdoor pitches as Andoni Iraola and his coaching staff took a closer look at the players they have inherited.
Liverpool documented the day, and here is what we noticed.
Reunions and meet and greets
There were plenty of hugs and handshakes on the first day as players reunited with each other and the club’s physical performance staff, and met the new boss and his coaches.
Of course, a lot of the meet-ups took place around the club’s coffee bar.
Dominik Szoboszlai was shown meeting first-team coaches Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper for the first time, while Curtis Jones greeted Iraola – though someone forgot to tell him it wasn’t sunny inside.
Hugo Ekitike attracted plenty of attention, including from CEO Billy Hogan, and was spotted carrying and using crutches.
Fitness tests in the gym
The first stop was at the club’s gym for baseline medical examinations and assessments, which are recorded and for some exercises filmed.
Szoboszlai certainly did not mind the camera having a close-up while he got to work, exclaiming “I’m too strong guys” with a wink, as one of the machines needed an adjustment.
The aim of the tests is to identify any muscular imbalances and tailor targeted training programs for every player moving forward.
Every player was involved, whether for tests or continued rehab.
Endurance tests on the outdoor pitches
The hard work only then started, first with a warm-up outside and then speed and endurance tests under the watchful eye of Iraola, Pablo de la Torre, his coaches, and the club’s fitness staff.
There was a staggered return throughout the day for players so fitness staff could oversee returns in small groups of four or five.
Endurance and stamina were the focus for the outfield players, as was turn of direction, with Gomez noting to Jones afterwards that it is “deceptive as your legs go.”
Group 1: Szoboszlai, Kerkez, Nyoni, Elliott, Woodman
Group 2: Jones, Tsimikas, Gomez, Mamardashvili
Group 3: Chiesa, Ngumoha, Frimpong, Pecsi
Just be glad it was them and not us doing the fitness tests!