5 things learned from Liverpool’s training – from Klopp’s look to injury boost
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Liverpool are currently out in Austria for their pre-season preparations ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Jurgen Klopp 's side are hoping to be back in the mix for silverware, having finished third in the Premier League and been eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals last season.
The Reds have been training on the outskirts of Salzburg and they will kick off their pre-season friendlies on July 20 with two half-hour mini-games against FC Wacker Innsbruck and VfB Stuttgart.
With pictures continuing to emerge of the Liverpool squad in pre-season training, here are five things we have spotted so far.
Injury boost
Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all suffered season-ending injuries last year and Liverpool's resulting issues at the back had a major knock-on effect on their campaign.
However, the trio are back in training at Liverpool's pre-season and the Reds will be hopeful they can stay fit next season.
Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is also back in training, having suffered a thigh injury while on international duty which forced him to miss England's Euro 2020 campaign.
New signing
Liverpool have made just the one new signing so far this summer, forking out £36m to complete the transfer of Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.
The 22-year-old has been busy settling in with his new team-mates in pre-season and he told the club's official website: "I am very happy to be here with the team.
"My first impressions, I am very happy because I work with great players and I know I will [improve] here and I will be better with time."
Konate also revealed he has begun to bond with several members of the squad, adding: "With Van Dijk a little bit; Mane because he speaks French; Naby, I knew him for a long time; Origi and Salah.
"I think I can speak with every player step by step, it will be good."
Fringe players looking to impress
Liverpool named a 34-man squad for their pre-season trip to Austria, with Andy Roberson, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Neco Williams, Harry Wilson, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino all absent after their involvement at either Euro 2020 or the Copa America.
As a result, a number of fringe players have been given an opportunity to impress Klopp, with those who either struggled for game time last season or went out on loan looking to push their case for a more prominent role this season.
The likes of Kostas Tsimikas, Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino in particular will be hoping to secure a more regular run of first-team football.
Klopp's new look
The Liverpool boss had been pictured without his signature glasses during training, shocking supporters with his new look.
The images prompted speculation among fans on social media about whether Klopp had decided to permanently ditch the glasses.
However, in an interview with the club's official website, Klopp's iconic glasses were back.
Youngsters looking for an opportunity
A number of youngsters who are yet to make their senior debuts for Liverpool also made the trip to Austria.
These include teenage goalkeepers Marcelo Pitaluga and Harvey Davies, highly-rated full-backs Conor Bradley and Owen Beck and 16-year-old prospect Kaide Gordon, who was recently signed from Derby County.
- Jurgen Klopp
- Liverpool FC
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