Soccer Football - Champions League - Group E - Liverpool v KRC Genk - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 5, 2019 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp REUTERS/Andrew Yates
Medical expert Ben Dinnery has delivered a glowing verdict on Liverpool and their willingness to embrace new technology.
The lowdown: Marginal gains
This comes after it was reported by iNews that the Reds are looking into a revolutionary new system at Kirkby that allows players to train in the dark, thus improving peripheral vision during competitive action.
The technology is produced by Okkulo and is said to help improve reflexes and could be of particular benefit to goalkeepers.
As such, Liverpool goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel has been contemplating using the kit at the state of the art AXA Training Centre.
The latest: Dinnery approves
Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery, who runs the popular Premier Injuries website, has hailed the Anfield club for its approach to innovative ideas.
“Clubs are embracing new technologies. They are trying to gain that edge and opportunity to make a difference at the very highest level.
“Liverpool are certainly up there in terms of how regularly they try new things. The game is becoming faster and more intense. Therefore, players need to adapt. This cutting edge technology helps.
“Football was once considered a fairly aerobic sport, i.e fairly constant levels of intensity. Now, it’s a lot more anaerobic, stop-start, with a lot more explosive movements and high-intensity sprints.
“We know Liverpool love the high press. The demands on the players to react and move quicker are there. The company have been working with Durham University and have had very positive responses with their early tests.”
The verdict: Focus on fitness
This wouldn’t be the first instance of the club, and particularly Jurgen Klopp, making behind the scenes changes that could have a positive impact on performance.
Liverpool appointed former Borussia Dortmund medic Dr Andreas Schlumberger as head of recovery and performance on Merseyside in 2020, a specifically created role for the German expert.
Since then previously renowned regular injury sufferers Naby Keita, Thiago and Joel Matip have all enjoyed improved availability, amassing a combined 102 appearances so far this season compared to 58 across the entire 2020/21 campaign – thus allowing Klopp to get more out of key players and in turn embark on a potentially history-defining quadruple.
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The German manager has often spoken of needing to find alternative ways of competing at the top level and should the potential new addition to the methods have a big impact it will be another feather in the cap of the club.
In other news, a key Liverpool update has emerged regarding a superstar player. Read more here.
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