Title "Stroll" 2019-2020

[dom9]

[ame]https://twitter.com/_pauljoyce/status/1190166515288543232[/ame]

[Shaggy]

How Liverpool’s men of steel are kept fighting fit

Pasta stations, a ‘drill sergeant’, performance-enhancing drugs and massages at home have taken Klopp’s team to another level, writes Paul Joyce

Paul Joyce, Northern Football Correspondent
November 1 2019, 12:01am,
The Times

Last Sunday lunchtime, a rumour swept around Anfield that Mohamed Salah would be absent for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur. The forward had not trained properly in the build-up to the game, missing that Friday’s session because of an ankle injury.

As it turned out, he not only started the game but also scored the winning penalty to restore a six-point advantage at the top of the Premier League for Jürgen Klopp’s side. No one should be surprised at either eventuality.

It reflects well on Salah — and Liverpool — that he has missed only three league matches since arriving from Roma in the summer of 2017. With a punishing schedule of games — they face a minimum of 14 matches between December 4 and January 23 — that durability is a quality Liverpool may be grateful for as they fight on five fronts — the three domestic competitions, plus the Champions League and December’s Club World Cup in Qatar.

Virgil van Dijk has missed one league game since he signed in January last year, Sadio Mané two since the start of last season, Roberto Firmino eight and Georginio Wijnaldum ten since the start of the 2016-17 campaign.

Physical resilience is a focus of work at Melwood, the training ground. Brendan Rodgers placed much emphasis on recovery, embracing training on small pitches and tailoring sessions to meet individual needs. Yet Liverpool’s medical and sports science departments have been expanded since Klopp’s arrival as his successor in October 2015, with a number of strategic appointments aimed at securing marginal gains and eking out an extra per cent or two in performances.

Andreas Kornmayer, the head of fitness and conditioning whom Klopp has likened to a drill sergeant; Mona Nemmer, head of nutrition; Philipp Jacobsen, medical rehabilitation and performance manager; and Christopher Rohrbeck; the first-team physio with whom Klopp worked at Mainz, are among those who play important roles in ensuring that the club remains at the forefront of the latest methods.

Since the departure of Klopp’s former right-hand man Zeljko Buvac before the 2018-19 season and the return to Liverpool of Pepijn Lijnders to assist Klopp after a short spell in management at NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands, it has been noticeable that there have been more days off for the players.

The entire first-team squad was in on Monday but since then has been split. Those who played against Spurs were given Tuesday off and those who faced Arsenal in the Carabao Cup victory on Wednesday were off on Thursday.

Klopp has transformed the backroom team at AnfieldKlopp has transformed the backroom team at Anfield

They all reconvene on Friday with one session to prepare for the visit to Aston Villa, but that rest is considered vital, especially for those players who have international commitments and cannot take full advantage of any hiatus in the Premier League programme.

Klopp’s trust in his players is central to this and, increasingly, Lijnders has taken the lead on players being allowed to do the first day of recovery at home to maximise days off. The day after a game would normally feature those who played undergoing a 45-minute massage, bike and core work, a jog around the pitch and a session in the swimming pool. Many players now have access to pools at their homes, or elsewhere, and it is common for some of the club’s staff to go to a player’s house and give a massage.

At Liverpool, the players have immersed themselves in the need for good practices, alongside the finest quality performance enhancing drugs. There are one-on-one gym sessions, which are more stimulating when a member of Kornmayer’s team coaxes and motivates a player to give everything rather than them working in isolation.

One of the other major off-pitch advancements under Klopp has come in nutrition, where Nemmer, recruited from Bayern Munich in 2016, is a leader in her field. When the games come thick and fast — such as the looming schedule of Villa, Genk and Manchester City over the next ten days — there will be educational messaging in the canteen on the importance of stocking up on carbohydrates and protein.

To support this, Nemmer then gives instructions to the kitchen and the chef, and the menu is based on those food groups which are important in aiding recovery. The meals are popular with the players, as well as nutritious. There was a point when cooking facilities were not available during the rebuild of Anfield’s Main Stand between 2014 and 2016, that the players ate Nandos after matches rather than cold sandwiches.

Now, under Nemmer’s command, the best products are available, while the players can take home doggy bags filled with food from pasta and rice stations close to the dressing room.



“A big compliment to our fitness department and a big compliment to our nutrition department and to everyone who is helping our players to recover because without this, performances would not be possible,” Lijnders said. “Then, our whole group of players represent the mentality of Jürgen and our captains to have this constant will to become better, improve and recover.

“Everyone says it is game-to-game but actually it is session-to-session. If we speak about these players and why are they so special, why they are capable of doing these things, it is because they never whine.

“They never complain. They never make excuses and, in the hardest moment, they never give up.”

Clearly, the mentality of Van Dijk and Co in making themselves available every week is key and the present winning run overrides tiredness.

But the work behind the scenes in ensuring that they stay fit for purpose cannot be underestimated.

[The_weatherman]

It's really impressive how we are looking at every detail to get an edge, and doing well too. One of Klopp's strengths is surrounding himself with top people.

[Saveloy]

That article is one massive jinx

[Yozza]

At Liverpool, the players have immersed themselves in the need for good practices, alongside the finest quality performance enhancing drugs

I knew it - where can I get some of this ****?

[RedAndWhite]

It's really impressive how we are looking at every detail to get an edge, and doing well too. One of Klopp's strengths is surrounding himself with top people.

Ferguson was good at that as well. You dont need to know it all, you just need clever people who do.

[DeeTheDog]

In regards to World Club cup how detrimental do we feel it will be? The main drawback is that we will need to reschedule two league games later in the season which could be a problem; however, are there any benefits? Will taking a break from the pressure cooker of back-to-back, must win game Premier league games in cold weather be a negative? These will be replaced by warm weather training and matches in a less pressurised environment with the potential of feel good cup win at the end.

During the same period City play the Qtrs of the LC, are away to Arsenal, then home to Leicester which follow an away trip to Prague and Manc Derby.

If we maintain our six point lead or extend it, any pyschological damage of chasing a big lead would also be negated, whilst City chasing, would need to be perfect during the busiest period in the Englsh calendar which also coincides with their tougher fixtures.

[Exiled_red]

Reschedule 2 PL games? I know the West Ham game is being moved and we have to find a slot for the Villa Cup tie, but which other game is moved?

[dom9]

I can't see any positives in it.

Maybe that it's not in Japan?

That's it.

Massive waste of space.

[Rigadon]

Can't we just send a reserve team to Qatar for the Club World Cup and play the under 23s in the Carabao Cup against Villa? The first team should be saved for PL and CL games.

[labourRed]

The club haven't won the cup so I'd quite like to take it semi seriously.

[Fosterbloke]

I genuinely don't give a **** about it - **** sending our boys to play against a team of nut job South American kneecappers.

[red g]

The club haven't won the cup so I'd quite like to take it semi seriously.

We haven't won the premier league either

[poorscousertommy]

I genuinely don't give a **** about it - **** sending our boys to play against a team of nut job South American kneecappers.

Couldn't agree more.

The last time we were in it was dodgy as **** too.

We got beat but had goals wrongly disallowed and the ref was giving everything against us.

I swear that game (can't remember who we played) was rigged.

[Roboklopp]

Some Brazilian side I think. Was absolutely ludicrous, was taking about it this am.