Liverpool’s shot-stoppers were spotted deploying some unusual equipment during a pre-season training drill under their new coaches who seem to be eager to stamp their mark on training sessions for the new campaign.
It looks like Arne Slot is already all geared up to officially launch the new era at Anfield, with his backroom staff intently focused on putting a host of players through their paces after they returned from their holidays.
Slot is obviously prioritizing improving fitness levels, similar to what legendary former boss Jurgen Klopp used to also focus on to make his charges match ready. The new head coach had not delayed in completing the make-up of his deputies shortly after putting pen to paper on a three-year deal, almost immediately hiring Aaron Briggs as an elite development coach while No. 2, Sipke Hulshoff, and lead physical performance coach, Ruben Peeters, also arrived almost immediately thereafter.
However, the most interesting addition looks to be Fabian Otte, head of first-team goalkeeper coaching. The relatively young Otte, aged just 33, joined the Reds from the United States national side shortly after his coaching tenure at the Copa America.
Impressively, Otte cut short his holiday after only just a week off in his eagerness to hit the ground running and wasted little time in introducing groundbreaking new methods. To this end, the Reds’ stoppers were spotted using noise cancelling headphones and glasses that actually limit their field of vision, with the main intention being to improve their confidence with the ball at their feet – a key hallmark of Slot’s preferred style of play.
In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, academy goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek was handed a pair of the glasses by Otte before taking part in the drill.
On the other side of the pitch, one of his team-mates wore the large headphones.
Each of the players took it in turns to complete a pass while being pressured by their coaches – with large blow-up mannequins representing the opposition.
Otte has previously worked with goalkeepers at Borussia Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim in Germany as well as the New Zealand women’s national team.
Head coach Slot shared his delight with Otte’s early return to work.
“He also had a tournament, he was with the USA team,” he said. “Unfortunately for him, they went out of the tournament. I gave him a few weeks off but he said, ‘No, I want to come as soon as I can’. He’s already in now after a one-week holiday.
“I think that is what you like to see. Although having a holiday is important, you like to see staff members and players want to come in as early as they can to join the team and help us for, hopefully, a very good season.”