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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor Dunn

Harvey Elliott impresses Van Dijk, Shaqiri firing and five things learned from Liverpool training

Liverpool are continuing to prepare for their defence of the Premier League title out in Austria.

The Reds flew out to a pre-season training camp close to the outskirts of Salzburg ahead of the 2020/21 campaign and carried out their first session on Saturday evening.

They took to the field again on Sunday with players taking part in an inter-squad match and, once again, spirits were high.

Here is what we learned from the second session on the continent.

Elliott impresses Van Dijk

During the training match Andy Robertson made a trademark run down the left before passing the ball inside to Harvey Elliott through the legs of Mohamed Salah.

The youngster cut back before bursting forward and whipping the ball across for Takumi Minamino to side foot into the back of the net.

Behind the camera a booming voice can be heard shouting 'ah, what a ball' - before Virgil van Dijk walks into frame clapping at the passage of play he had just witnessed.

Lijnders backs Alisson

At the start of the session the goalkeepers were put through their paces.

Both Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher were in goal being fed balls and passing out right and left respectively trying to place their efforts between miniature goalposts.

Assistant manager Pep Lijnders can be heard behind the net saying: "I put my money on Ali. Now it's about pressure, 20 quid on Ali!"

* What are you looking for in pre-season training? Tell us in the comments

Firmino sharp

The Liverpool players took part in mini pass-and-move sessions and during one involving Roberto Firmino, Gini Wijnaldum and James Milner on one side in bibs with Sadio Mane, Nathaniel Phillips, Harvey Elliott and Sepp van den Berg on the other, it was the No.9 who showed what the standard was all about.

He cut out Mane's pass incredibly sharply before muscling his way past the Senegal international under strong pressure and putting the ball into the back of the small net, with one being placed at either side of the tight arena.

Shaqiri among the goals

Xherdan Shaqiri looked as if he had returned to training in fine form as he finished off a number of moves during the inter-squad game.

He finished the first past on a on-rushing Alisson after a reverse through ball from Mohamed Salah, the second he put past the Brazil No.1 after being set up with an easy finish again following a through ball from Salah and the third was struck into the back of the net after a lovely pass from Ki-Jana Hoever.

It was great to Shaqiri so involved in the session since he was restricted to just one appearance and seven minutes of Premier League football upon the restart of the season.

Salah strong and firing

Also during the match, a seriously strong-looking Salah showed everyone that he was ready to fire again.

The Egypt international burst down the left and shouts of 'no shot' were heard only for the attacker to pull back his left foot and blast the ball past Kelleher into the back of the net.

And not only did he provide the assists for Shaqiri, he also set up Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain too.

*Take our LFC summer transfer survey HERE.

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