Mignolet: We're very hungry to start again
Simon Mignolet senses a hunger within Liverpool’s squad after reporting for pre-season training on Saturday.
The goalkeeper was one of a number of Reds players who returned to Melwood this weekend to begin their preparations for 2017-18.
Jürgen Klopp’s side start their pre-season friendly programme by making the short trip to Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday evening - a game you can watch live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO.
That match at Prenton Park is the first of eight fixtures Liverpool will play before they visit Watford on the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign.
And Mignolet has spoken of a determination among his teammates to ensure they head to Vicarage Road in peak condition to give them the best possible chance of beginning the season strongly.
“It's always nice to be back. We had a good break but then you always look forward to the season,” the Belgium international told Liverpoolfc.com.
“We're back here with all the team, seeing all the new faces and everybody again, it was nice to see them and start training again.
“With no tournaments this summer - although Emre of course played at the Confederations Cup - we had good time off, so everybody's very hungry to start again.
“I think everybody did their work when they were away and now all together we'll prepare for the season as best we can so we can start on a high and make sure we have a good basis to get through a long season.”
LFCTV GO: Mignolet on pre-season, 2017-18 and competition
Along with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Georginio Wijnaldum and Dejan Lovren - who also reported for duty this weekend - Mignolet was put through a series of physical assessments by Klopp and his backroom team on Saturday.
“On the first day you're always a bit nervous to see what's coming and you know the tests are there to see how you've done in the off-season,” he explained.
“But that's all part and parcel of pre-season, making sure we're here with a good basis, and then we can crack on in the next few weeks to make sure we're ready for the new season.”
Mignolet is also relishing the prospect of returning to work with goalkeeping coach John Achterberg and fellow stoppers Loris Karius and Danny Ward - back from his successful loan spell with Huddersfield Town - and anticipates a battle to retain his status as Klopp’s first-choice ‘keeper.
“It's nice to see all the faces again, we've got a good ‘keepers union here,” he continued.
“All the goalkeepers will push each other to make sure we're ready for the games that are coming our way.
“Of course you always do that [work to keep your place in the team] but the most important thing is that Liverpool Football Club plays a good season. So we have to make sure we prepare that as a group and then, of course, individually, [playing] is also important.
“But the team comes first and the club comes first to make sure we create success. That's the main thing throughout this pre-season and then hopefully we can prove that over the course of the season.”