Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren admits they were given a tough start to pre-season after returning to Melwood on Tuesday.
Lovren has been at the centre of speculation over his future this summer with AC Milan believed to be keen to take him to the San Siro.
But Liverpool have no intentions of selling the Croatian defender, who returned to action a few days after his team-mates alongside Divock Origi.
He underwent a gruelling lactate test alongside the striker as part of a series of physical examinations and conceded it was a tough day as he focuses on preparing for another big campaign at Anfield.
Lovren told Liverpool's official website : “Like always it [day one of pre-season] was a little bit hard, but I’m glad that I’m here back. The vacation is over, it’s time to work and to get back on track where we stopped.
“We need to prepare ourselves for the beginning of the season because the schedule is quite tight when you look at it.
“We will play already for two big, major trophies [in August] so it’s a great opportunity for us and all the fans around the world.”
Despite only returning to pre-season training on Tuesday, Lovren has urged Jurgen Klopp to give him some playing time when they take on Tranmere in a pre-season friendly on Thursday.
With a busy schedule ahead, Lovren warned their Premier League rivals they are a "workaholic team" who are already in good shape.
When asked if he wants to be involved against Tranmere, he declared: "Yeah, why not?
"I’m a football player so I want to play football - that’s what I’m doing all my life so why not?
“It will be a quite intensive period with all these friendly games, but there is quite a lot of players who already worked with the boss here in the previous seasons so we know what we are expecting and to be the best in the Premier League or in the Champions League you need to work quite a lot.
“I think we are a workaholic team here, with players who are professional in each way, inside the dressing room and outside. Every detail matters.
“I think for a couple of guys it was a short period [of time off] so they didn’t lose a lot of fitness. When I look now at training everyone looks quite good and fit.”
