Liverpool FC Thread #142:- 2017 Pre-Season

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Jürgen Klopp has returned to Melwood brimming with 'real optimism' as Liverpool take the first step for 2017-18 by beginning pre-season training.

The manager and a group of 22 players reconvened at their base on Wednesday morning to kick off preparations for the upcoming campaign.

Physical tests were on the agenda following the summer break, but Klopp did not need long to judge that his squad are raring to go – and build on last term’s fourth-place finish.

“It was a wonderful rest for all of us, absolutely deserved,” the German told Liverpoolfc.com at the training ground.

“I saw the boys this morning and I saw in their faces that they’re ready to go. So I’m ready to go. It’s cool.

“Of course, it’s not what they love most, it’s kind of a weird relationship [with pre-season] – you don’t want to do it but you know it’s necessary so you do it. You feel bad before and you feel perfect afterwards.

“It’s the first step done. It’s good. It’s important for us to know from which point we can pick them in the next few weeks. They all look pretty much in a good shape.”

More players will reconnect with the team at later dates, including the likes of new signing Mohamed Salah, Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Dejan Lovren, Simon Mignolet and Georginio Wijnaldum, as a result of their recent international commitments.

Klopp explained why he has been in touch with all of them during the summer.

“The players with international games are not here and if they have two weeks off, I don’t call. It’s a holiday,” said the boss.

“But when the training starts again and they have to do the plan, then we are always in contact. They have to send me messages after they did their session.

“All the players with international games, we were always in contact – because it’s important how they feel before and after the game. It’s not really work for me, I’m interested in it. I’ve had contact with all of them.”

A carefully designed pre-season programme awaits Liverpool in the coming weeks, with eight friendlies arranged and trips to Hong Kong, Germany and the Republic of Ireland ahead.

All of their work is planned to have the players in ideal condition for the opening weekend of the Premier League season and the crucial Champions League play-off in August.

And the manager believes it’s possible to carry the momentum of the final games of 2016-17 straight into the new campaign.

Klopp added: “We all know in a few weeks we have these qualifiers and there will be pressure on the game.

“But now we have the time to prepare this and we have to use the basis we created last year – it was not too bad. We all know it could have been maybe a little bit better but it could have been much worse.

“We are now one of the top four teams in England last season, so now we want to keep this situation and work with it and improve.

“The squad will be stronger this year than it was last year. That’s a real reason for real optimism.”

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Jürgen Klopp returned to Melwood on Wednesday morning as Liverpool began pre-season training – and the manager was greeted by a birthday surprise inside his office…

The boss’ personal quarters were decorated with paraphernalia to mark his 50th birthday, which he celebrated on June 16, by members of staff at the club’s West Derby complex.

Klopp was taken by surprise as he entered his office as he was greeted by the sight of balloons, cards, presents and even a special cake to mark the landmark.

But it was soon down to business as the German and his team began putting the returning players through a series of tests as the Reds began to ready themselves for 2017-18.

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As well as winning titles, trophies and transforming Liverpool Football Club from Second Division strugglers into a dynasty which dominated English football for quarter-of-a-century - Bill Shankly also found time to give his blessing to couples wishing to get married!

Years before The Kop christened Robbie Fowler as 'God', the Reds manager was treated in equally reverential fashion.

Twitter account AngelCakePhotos, who posts evocative and nostalgic photos of Merseyside daily, has unearthed a wonderful letter from Shankly to a girl from Liverpool who had been told by her boyfriend they could only get engaged if he had 'God's permission.'

Asked "Who's God?" he replied "Bill Shankly."

So the resourceful maiden wrote to the Reds boss, who as he always did with Reds fans, replied promptly.

"Dear Susan," he wrote. "Received your letter regarding yourself and your Boy-Friend, thanks very much indeed. You really put me on a high plane Susan. I am flattered. I can assure you.

"You have my permission to get engaged, and I trust that you and your Boy-Friend will be very happy. Incidentally. You should have put the name of you (sic) Man. I don't like writing about Boy-friends. I like to call my man by their first names. Best wishes, Bill Shankly."

The mandate for matrimony was one of the last acts of Shankly's 15 year reign as Reds boss. The letter was dated July 1st, and on July 12th he announced his shock resignation.

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Liverpool’s players return to Melwood today for the first day of pre-season training ahead of the 2017/18 campaign but some of the squad have more of a point to prove to manager Jurgen Klopp than others.

The Reds boss will be joined by a 22 players including several big names and they’ll all be out to catch his eye in their own way.

Here’s the lowdown on the key individuals who will be men on a mission:

Daniel Sturridge

Is the England international a ‘Jurgen Klopp player?’

Answers on a postcard we used to say in the pre-internet age.

Given that Sturridge’s minutes have been limited under the German but he’s still at the club, perhaps neither man truly really knows?



Three years after he plundered 21 Premier League goals for the Reds, Sturridge started just seven Premier League games in 2016/17.

Given that the Brummie turns 28 on the day after the transfer window slams shut, time is no longer on his side and he was widely tipped for the Anfield exit door this summer.

With almost two months remaining that could of course still happen but recent reports have suggested that with considerable funds being potentially deployed elsewhere to strengthen the midfield and defence, Klopp has decided to hold on to Sturridge because a comparable replacement would just be too costly in the currently inflated market.

The marriage of convenience may have to continue for now. If so, it’s up to Sturridge to win his boss around.

His finishing prowess has never been in doubt. He just has to keep himself fit and available for selection.

Jordan Henderson

A foot injury has kept the Liverpool captain out since February and by the time he’s fully fit again he could potentially have a huge obstacle blocking his return to the Reds starting line-up – a £70million obstacle in the shape of Naby Keita.

The competition for places in Klopp’s midfield is fierce. Adam Lallana has been reborn since the change of management, Gini Wijnaldum impressed in his debut campaign at Anfield, Confederations Cup-winner Emre Can continues to show flashes of his huge potential – even though he is now entering the final year of his current contract – while even Brazilian magician Philippe Coutinho has been deployed in the engine room.



When Henderson is up and running will the skipper be able to force his way back in on a regular basis?

You wouldn’t bet against it though. The Mackem maestro has come through adversity before and has come a long way since Brendan Rodgers tried to pack him off to Fulham as a makeweight in a proposed move for Clint Dempsey.

He knuckled down then to prove the doubters wrong and can do so again but it might not be straightforward.

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Loris Karius

If the German custodian looked as good commanding his penalty area as he does smouldering on social media selfies then Liverpool would be in safe hands.

The problem remains though that titles are not won posting an endless parade of snap shots of yourself looking moody in glamorous locations around the globe.

David James used to model for Armani and Karius appears like he’s auditioning for something similar but Kopites don’t want a pretty boy in between the sticks though.



Karius was given plenty of early backing from his compatriot Klopp after he snapped him up from his first club Mainz last summer but after rather fortunately being handed the number one spot at Simon Mignolet’s expense, he produced a series of unconvincing displays before being axed.

Karius has a rare talent but at this stage his Belgian rival still looks a far more solid option.

What does he want more? Followers/likes/retweets or medals?

It shouldn’t even be a question.

Jon Flanagan

Now this lad’s attitude and desire to pull on the red shirt cannot be questioned.

Flanno grew up just 200 yards from Anfield in Utting Avenue and could hear the roar of the crowd from his back garden when the Reds would score a goal.

He is also painfully aware of the disappointments of not making it at the club he loves having opened up candidly about the time Phil Thompson cited his own dad John (with a h) Flanagan as an example of allowing a promising career to fall by the wayside in front of a group of young hopefuls.

Because of all that, Flanagan does not want his own Liverpool dream to die.



Like Sturridge, he was one of the success stories of the 2013/14 campaign when Rodgers’ swashbuckling side came agonisingly close to a first Premier League title.

Since then, Flanagan’s progress has been stunted by even more injury misery than the striker – he didn’t kick a ball in the first team from May 2014 to January 2016 – but now fit again, he’s determined to show Klopp he’s still got something to offer.

Just six Premier League outings on loan at Burnley last season hardly looks encouraging when it comes to reclaiming a place in the team of a Champions League side but if the local boy doesn’t force his way back in it won’t be for the lack of trying or heart.

Roberto Firmino

On the face of it the Brazilian enjoyed a relatively successful second season at Anfield last term but like a few of his other team-mates he peaked too early.

Following a smattering of high-scoring wins, many Reds were getting carried away with themselves in the autumn and were ready to crown their side champions in a wildly premature fashion.

The goalscoring prowess at this time of the likes of Firmino was one of the contributing factors to such schoolgirl giddiness from certain sections of the support base.



With Sturridge out of favour, the former Hoffenheim man was often leading the line for Klopp but from New Year’s Eve onwards, he would add just five further goals in his last 22 outings – a figure which was hardly prolific.

Perhaps it’s just symbolic but with Mohamed Salah taking the number 11 jersey next season, Firmino will switch to the coveted number 9 shirt which brings with it the heavy burden of goalscoring responsibilities.

Breathtaking on his day, the Samba star will have to ensure he finds his rhythm on a consistent basis as great things are expected of him.

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Jurgen Klopp has urged Liverpool fans to be patient as he revealed the club are waiting for the “right moment” to make further signings.

The Reds broke their transfer record last month to buy Mohamed Salah for £37million and also snapped up out-of-contract Chelsea youngster Dominic Solanke.

However, Liverpool have so far been frustrated in their attempts to strengthen in other departments with Klopp keen to secure a top-class centre-back, centre midfielder and left-back during the summer window.

Naby Keita is one of Klopp’s top targets but Leipzig are currently unwilling to entertain offers for the highly-rated Guinea international, who has his heart set on a move to Anfield.

The manager has reassured supporters that plenty of work has been done “behind the scenes” which should come to fruition later in the window.

“Of course the transfer market opened a few days ago,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.

“Yes, it will be a difficult one, maybe it’s getting more and more difficult, especially in England.

“But we have made a lot of good things so far. If you cannot see it so far, you can imagine we have done a lot of things behind the scenes.

“Sometimes you need to be patient and that’s what we are in the moment - to wait for the right moment and then we will see what happens.”

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Sadio Mane remains on course with his rehabilitation from injury.

The forward has been based at Melwood working with the club’s medical team for the majority of the summer after missing the end of 2016-17 following knee surgery in April.

His recovery plan is on schedule and Mane’s condition has looked good as he’s completed outdoor sessions to step up his recuperation programme.

The 25-year-old is on course to join his teammates in the main group of players for pre-season training within a time frame of 10 days after Liverpool’s preparations for the new campaign began on Wednesday.

This means, however, Mane is unlikely to figure in the Reds’ domestic friendlies with Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic.

He will continue to be monitored and assessed by the club’s medical staff to ensure he returns in the best shape and ready for the remainder of the pre-season schedule.

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It's not just inside the stadium where work is ongoing at Anfield during the close season - and the latest batch of Anfield Forever stones have been laid outside the Main Stand this week.

In July 2016, we announced the Anfield Forever project as a celebration of the club, players, managers and supporters’ memories. These fan messages and dedications began to be laid on 96 Avenue earlier this year.

More than 14,000 stones have already been sold, with our small-sized offering having completely sold out and only a limited number of large and premium tiles remaining.

Cast in granite, each is meticulously hand engraved with the personalised message and a unique issue number, before being carefully highlighted in white and packaged up ready for its trip to Anfield.

The personalised stones create a space for fans to share lasting memories and explore what the club means to others. Alongside fans’ memories and dedications, player and managerial history will share the walkway, giving fans an insight into the club’s history.

As part of that nod to our illustrious past, 10 permanent benches are being positioned along 96 Avenue, each of which is dedicated to an individual club legend.

The likes of Bill Shankly and Billy Liddell have already had their benches put in place, but those who purchase one of the remaining Anfield Forever stones could have theirs next to a permanent tribute to Steven Gerrard, for example.

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