Free-kick debate, pass-and-move and the grip challenge – things spotted at training on Friday

Arne Slot’s Reds reconvened at the AXA Training Centre to ramp up their work towards the resumption of the Premier League campaign.

A trip to Turf Moor awaits on Sunday afternoon, where the reigning champions will aim to make it four successive wins to begin their title defence.

Read on for six things we noticed on and off the pitch on matchday-minus-two…

Hugs and hellos

Alexander Isak undertook his first training session as a Liverpool player on Wednesday, but alongside only a handful of his new senior colleagues, with many Reds then still to return from international duty.

The squad coming back together as a group ahead of the clash with the Clarets, though, allowed the Swede to further integrate with teammates.

And our cameras captured warm greetings for the No.9 from the likes of captain Virgil van Dijk and fellow goal-getter Mohamed Salah before Friday’s session began.

‘It was crazy!’

Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick to defeat Arsenal at Anfield last time out has clinched both the club’s and the Premier League’s Goal of the Month awards for August this week.

Just how good was it?

We grabbed several of the players inside the AXA Training Centre to ask about the greatest set-piece strike they have ever witnessed live…

Ibou’s gift

Ibrahima Konate returned to Merseyside having represented France in the September international games.

And the centre-back still had a Les Bleus shirt in his luggage upon arriving back at base in Kirkby. Though not for long.

He handed the jersey over to the interested Szoboszlai at the coffee bar. We’ll allow blue just this once, lads.

Gakpo the grip king

Gym-based challenges have been a recurring theme of training recently, and there was a fresh one being contested on Friday.

A test of grip, the rules were simple: hold two 15kg weights for as long as possible with just your fingers.

Plenty sought top spot, but it belonged to Cody Gakpo…

Frimpong back in the mix

Summer recruit Jeremie Frimpong missed Liverpool’s two games immediately before the international break with a hamstring issue.

The No.30 has been back on the turf this week, however, and continued to step up his recovery as part of full team training two days out from taking on Burnley.

“Back out there,” he posted on social media. “Feels good, sooo good.”

‘Fantastic!’

Pass-and-move has long been the Liverpool groove.

And nothing has changed in the modern era, with one particularly slick passing exchange amid the squad’s possession drills captured for posterity and available to watch below.

It certainly earned the approval of a member of the coaching staff not seen on camera, who bellowed: ‘Fantastic!’