Jurgen Klopp has revealed the Liverpool dressing room was left stunned by the summer arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, the Liverpool boss delivered a glowing assessment of his latest two additions and also recalled how excited members of the playing staff were with their swift arrivals.
Jurgen Klopp said: “Very happy! Two very good players. I was immediately thinking about nicknames and I thought it would be great nickname for Alexis… Gary [McAllister]! He plays pretty good football, obviously, the same as Dom. I was pretty clear in the moment we signed them, the public reception was pretty good, internally it was outstanding, the boys know about football so they were immediately like, ‘Oh my God…’ so that’s really good. Now they are here and didn’t take long, let me say, to impress on the pitch as well, so that’s good.
After four days of training with close to a full squad, Liverpool will jet off to the Black Forest region over Germany the weekend as their pre-season schedule begins to really take shape with a European-based training camp. During their week-long stay in Klopp’s homeland, the Reds will face Bundesliga 2 opposition in Karlsruher SC and Greuther Furth.
Jurgen Klopp said: “We had not a slow start, but a start with a small group on Saturday and since Tuesday everybody is in. There are still a couple of injured players, of course, but everybody is here now and really looking good. The sessions are good, the intensity is good, mood is good, the weather was interesting – we’ve had pretty much everything already since we are back! But nothing to complain [about].”
Also at the AXA Training Centre this week, midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara have been progressing with their individual fitness programmes after their 2022/23 campaigns ended prematurely due to injury. Meanwhile, captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have both been linked with shock moves to the Saudi Pro League sides Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad, respectively.
Both players have two years remaining on their current deals at Anfield.
