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4 months ago
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Mo Salah reigns supreme in Liverpool's new fitness test under Arne Slot, as the Reds boss puts his troops through their paces ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Dutchman has seen a number of players return from their holidays as he sets about shaping the squad in his own image, following his arrival earlier this month.
Under former boss Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool players - and keen eyed fans absorbing the club's social media content - would have become accustom to the Lactate Test that awaited stars at the start of pre-season.
The aerobic test measures lactic levels as players run increasing distances. Under Slot, that practice has been replaced by the 6-Minute Run Test, a similarly brutal exercise that sees participants complete six minute run around a 400m track in order to obtain their maximum aerobic speed.
During his time at the club, under the previous regime, Brighton midfielder James Milner was the undisputed king. But, as revealed by The Athletic, Salah has asserted himself as top dog.
Mo Salah (left) has set the new benchmark for Liverpool players in their first pre-season under Arne Slot
The new Reds boss (left) has met with several first team players as they return from their holidays
Salah has inherited the crown of James Milner, who was the undisputed king of endurance tests during his eight years with the club
Fitness coach Conall Murtagh is quoted as hailing the forward's performance as 'phenomenal' by the outlet. Salah completed the session alongside midfielder Wataru Endo after returning to training last week.
The 32-year-old is one of three key players still to agree new terms on contract that expire next summer.
Along with skipper Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold - who is of interest to Real Madrid - Salah's Liverpool future remains unclear.
New sporting director Richard Hughes resisted speaking on each of the players' situation specifically but reassured supporters that the trio showed 'total commitment' to the team's cause.
'Contractual situations, I don’t think it would be fair for me to talk about,' he said earlier this month. 'These are private matters between club and players.
'The only concern I have, that Arne (Slot) has, about those situations and everyone else in the squad is that there is total commitment from the players to the cause for next season – and we are absolutely convinced that is the case.'
Slot meanwhile, has continued to welcome first team players back to the club's AXA Training Centre as those who exited the European Championship at the group stage returned to Merseyside this week.
They included Andy Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai and young goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros. The new Reds boss is still without 11 senior players. The 45-year-old will only have around 10 days to work with the full compliment before Liverpool's Premier League opener against Ipswich on August 17.
Slot is still without 11 first team players and is set to have only 10 days with his full squad ahead of their Premier League opener on August 17
Alexis Mac Allister helped Argentina secured back-to-back Copa Americas last week
Joe Gomez (middle left) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (middle right) suffered heartache with England at Euro 2024
Before that, the squad fly to the US for a pre-season tour where they will meet Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Betis on July 26. A host of key players, who endured long Euro and Copa America campaign respectively, are expected to miss the trip.
Three Lions Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez, Colombia's Luis Diaz, Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, Ibrahima Konate of France and the Dutch trio of Van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch all suffered heartache in the latter stages of the competitions.
Alexis Mac Allister was the sole victor among the Reds squad over the summer, as he helped Argentina secure back-to-back Copa Americas. Players are normally given a three-week break post international tournaments.
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