Liverpool players report back for pre-season under unimaginable circumstances, but here is what you can expect.
A small group of players, likely youngsters and those not on post-season international duty, were due to report to the AXA Training Centre for fitness checks on Friday.
A larger contingent were then expected to report back on Monday to start their preparations for the new season, but those plans changed in the wake of Diogo Jota’s tragic death.
Players and staff start to return from Tuesday and here is what to expect.
A muted return to the AXA
The circumstances in which the players arrive ahead of pre-season is unlike any other and while the club have often documented their return in previous years, we cannot expect similar this year.
It remains to be seen how the club’s media channels will approach the squad’s return but it will not be surprising if cameras are kept away early on as players continue to grieve.
A staggered return of the squad is still likely, with players to arrive at different times over the next few days to stagger the initial fitness tests they will all undertake.
Fitness tests first up
Players will be put under the microscope early on with the six-minute race test (6MRT), which replaced the dreaded lactate test in Arne Slot‘s first summer in charge.
Ruben Peeters, the first-team lead physical performance coach, oversaw the change which asks players to run as fast as possible for six minutes around, what is usually, a 400-metre track.
It evaluates maximal aerobic speed, and the performance staff can use the data to plan accordingly based on each player’s results.
In simpler terms, it assesses aerobic endurance fitness, which is the ability of the body to use oxygen as an energy source.
The club’s fitness staff are looking for each player’s base fitness level after their summer break, with everyone individually assessed with the 6MRT and more.
New faces
Liverpool have two new faces in Slot’s backroom staff, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst replacing John Heitinga as assistant coach, and Xavi Valero returning as the new head of first-team goalkeeper coaching.
In the dressing room, it will be the first day for signings Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman.
When are Liverpool’s pre-season friendlies?
Liverpool have six pre-season games confirmed in three different countries, and are due to meet two English clubs, plus one from Italy, Japan and Spain:
No decision, however, has been made on if the first against Preston on Sunday will go ahead:
Preston (Deepdale) – July 13
AC Milan (Hong Kong) – July 26
Yokohama FM (Japan) – July 30
Athletic Club (Anfield double-header) – August 4
Crystal Palace (Wembley) – August 10
Liverpool’s meeting with Athletic Club is a double-header at Anfield, with the first match kicking off at 5pm and the next to follow at 8pm – it precedes a trip to Wembley for the Community Shield.
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