James Milner sets the tone and forgotten man stars as Liverpool begin pre-season

Such are the standards Jurgen Klopp demands of his Liverpool players, day one of pre-season left a lasting impression on Andy Robertson upon his arrival on Merseyside.

The Scotland defender recalled throwing up on the very first day of preparations for the 2017/18 season shortly after his arrival from Hull City, branding the vomit-inducing lactate test a "terrible" experience. Given the vast success the Reds have enjoyed since then, Klopp and his coaching team have not let standards slip, meaning the squad are set for more gruelling experiences over the next few days.

Some players are still enjoying an extended break before joining up with their teammates but there were still plenty of familiar faces at Liverpool's AXA headquarters on Monday. Here are five things we spotted from day one of Liverpool pre-season training.

Setting the standard

James Milner has a mythical reputation when it comes to pre-season and he continues to raise the bar - quite literally - for those around him. The 36-year-old earned a short-term contract extension by making 39 appearances in all competitions last season and there is no doubt he still has plenty to offer Klopp as a squad player.

At his advanced age, Milner knows the importance of preparing properly for the upcoming season to avoid injuries down the line and was seen pushing himself to his lofty limits. The versatile midfielder is poised to surpass the milestone of 900 career appearances for club and country during the 2022/23 season, fitness allowing.

All smiles

Luis Diaz has plenty of reasons to be happy after his blistering start to life at Anfield. The electric winger made an instant impact upon his £50million arrival from Porto, scoring six goals and grabbing four assists during the second half of the campaign.

Regardless of how hard the opening tasks of the Reds' pre-season training were, Diaz had a beaming grin on his face as he went about his business. Perhaps he knows that the left-wing berth is likely his own after Sadio Mane's departure for Bayern Munich?

A point to prove

Joe Gomez had to settle for a paltry four starts in the Premier League last season after the arrival of Ibrahima Konate pushed him further down the centre-back pecking order. However, none can forget the steadfast partnership he formed with Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool's triumphant 2019/20 season, nor the quality the 25-year-old boasts when given an opportunity.

Gomez can stake his claim for more minutes in the upcoming term with a stellar showing in pre-season, with fixtures to come against the likes of Manchester United and Crystal Palace. That being said, Klopp may not need much of a reminder of his quality, as Mirror Sport exclusively reported last month he is keen to tie down the versatile defender to a new contract this summer.

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Strutting his stuff

Although Konate played a prominent role in the Champions League, Joel Matip was largely preferred to accompany Van Dijk at the heart of defence in the top flight and the 2021/22 campaign was arguably his finest as a Liverpool player. The towering Cameroonian made 43 appearances in all competitions and managed to avoid the string of injuries which plagued him in previous years.

About to enter his seventh season on Merseyside, Matip will hope he has turned a corner regarding his fitness and looked a picture of athleticism during an indoor session at Liverpool's AXA base. The second centre-back spot remains his to lose on the eve of the new season.

Building blocks

Kaide Gordon was arguably the breakout star of last season for Liverpool, scoring against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup to become the club's second-youngest goalscorer in all competitions. The 17-year-old winger has been tipped for a very bright future and will be desperate to build on his four senior appearances for the Reds as soon as possible.

Gordon has the chance to capture Klopp's imagination by seizing the opportunities which will inevitably come his way over the next few weeks; he would not be the first youngster to make their mark in preseason when the squad is depleted for one reason or another.