Liverpool Ace Hailed as “Phenomenal” by Coach Following “Punishing” Pre-season Training Drill
Mohamed Salah has returned to Liverpool’s pre-season training in excellent shape as Arne Slot prepares for his debut season as manager. The Egyptian forward enjoyed a summer break without any international duties and rejoined the team at Kirkby shortly after the initial group of players arrived.
Due to the success of various national teams in the Copa America and European Championship, Slot will be without many key players for most of Liverpool’s pre-season training. This leaves him with just over a week to ready his full squad for their first Premier League match against Ipswich Town.
Salah, along with other first-team players like Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai, has already begun preparations for the upcoming season. Despite turning 32 in June, Salah is reportedly looking extremely fit and ready for the long campaign ahead.
Salah in “Incredible Shape” for Pre-Season
The star player for Liverpool has consistently maintained excellent physical condition and frequently celebrates crucial goals at Anfield by removing his shirt.
Currently, he appears to be in peak physical form, perhaps the best of his career. Under manager Slot, the team has introduced fresh training methods, diverging from those used by Jurgen Klopp in previous years, which players had become accustomed to.
Upon their return to training, Salah and Wataru Endo faced a demanding six-minute race. Conall Murtagh, Liverpool’s first-team fitness coach, informed the duo:
“It’s important to show your mentality. Show the lads how it’s done as leaders in the group,” as they set off for the challenging run. He would then label Salah as: “Phenomenal,” when the Egyptian international surpassed Sepp van den Berg on the leaderboard with a remarkable time.
James Pearce of The Athletic reports that Salah has returned in exceptional shape for pre-season, setting high standards for his younger teammates both on the training pitch and in the gym.
As speculation about interest from Saudi Pro League clubs continues, it appears that the 32-year-old’s future remains at Anfield, with a significant season ahead.
Several prominent members of Liverpool’s first-team squad participated in the finals of Euro 2024 and Copa America. Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister faced each other in the Copa America final, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez were unused substitutes in England’s loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
These players will be the last to return to Kirkby, leaving Slot with a reduced squad for the training camp in Philadelphia.
Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Alisson Becker, and Darwin Nunez were all eliminated in the semi-finals of their respective international tournaments. Consequently, they will return to the team a few days before the finalists, in early August.
Slot faces a challenging task as he steps in as Klopp’s successor at Anfield. Klopp enjoyed nine successful seasons at the club, with fans well-acquainted with his team’s style of play. Slot, however, is a new figure in English football, heralding a new chapter for Liverpool.
In other Liverpool news, Arne Slot Could Land Brilliant Trent Replacement in Liverpool Swoop for £34m “Cheat Code”
