As Liverpool welcomed 14 of their international contingent for the first day of preseason training on Tuesday, familiar and unfamiliar faces arrived at the AXA Training Center.

The majority of Jurgen Klopp’s team, including Mohamed Salah and captain Jordan Henderson, marked their first day back at Kirkby as they were mercilessly put through their paces despite the fact that the 2023–24 season preparations officially began on Saturday.

On their first day as Liverpool players, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joined other first-team Reds players like Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

From here, the Reds will continue the first week of their schedule on Merseyside before jetting off to the German town of Donaueschingen in the Black Forest region to contest friendlies against Bundesliga 2 opposition Karlsruher SC and Greuther Furth next week.

Here’s what spotted from Tuesday’s session at the AXA Centre:

Duo enjoy their first days as Liverpool players

While the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Luis Diaz all returned to the Liverpool training on Tuesday morning after an extended summer break, all eyes were on Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai at the Reds’ Kirkby training base as both players were captured all smiles on their first day.

Mac Allister, the Reds’ first summer recruit, was a fitting parting present from Julian Ward, who is leaving his role as sports director. The Argentine was soon located by Julian, who then used the player’s £35 million release clause in his contract with Brighton & Hove Albion to free him.

Szoboszlai, 22, the second summer arrival, arrived from Bundesliga team RB Leipzig about three weeks later in a £60 million deal.

Both players will be a member of Jurgen Klopp’s team that will travel to Germany’s Black Forest for back-to-back friendlies the following week.

All smiles as the summer holidays end

However, it wasn’t just Alexis Mac Allister who looked delighted to be reporting to the AXA on Tuesday morning. Judging by the photos captured inside the Reds’ gymnasium, defensive duo Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson look rather chuffed to be in one another’s company once more after nearly six weeks apart.

The skipper and his new vice-captain?

Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk could be seen deep in conversation at Kirkby this morning.

Even if the England international’s flamboyant social media posts over the past few days likely dominated much of the conversation, Reds supporters should get used to it before the upcoming season.

This is due to the expectation that Van Dijk will ascend in the Reds’ internal leadership group after vice-captain James Milner left in the summer. The 32-year-old Dutch international has frequently led the Reds in recent seasons while both Henderson and Milner were injured.

If his promotion to vice-captain is approved, he will be required to do so frequently throughout the 2023–24 season.

Dreaded lactate test looks for a new champion

Nothing in Liverpool’s demanding preseason routine excites supporters quite like seeing their favorite players put through the dreaded lactate test and get thrashed into shape.

And this year, with James Milner gone, the Reds will only be able to welcome a second test champion since 2015.

This is due to the fact that the 37-year-old midfielder, who joined Brighton and Hove Albion earlier this summer when his contract with Merseyside expired, has won every one of his eight preseason games while playing for the team.

Images show Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai participating in the difficult workout, however the winner has not yet been made public.

Bajcetic continues rehabilitation

18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic continued his rehabilitation from a long-term adductor injury.

The Spaniard missed the final three months of the Reds’ season due to injury, but on Saturday he returned to the AXA Training Centre to complete his recovery.

Due to the severity and management of the injury, Jurgen Klopp acknowledged following the Reds’ final game of the regular season that he was doubtful if the teenager would be healthy enough to play in the preseason games.

However, given that Bajcetic has already added light ball activity to his routine, the early indications are encouraging.