All four of Liverpool’s 2016 signings trained as pre-season got underway at Melwood today.
One of those Reds new boys was 24-year-old centre-back Joel Matip – a free transfer from Schalke in Germany.
As well as being put through his paces by manager Jurgen Klopp this afternoon, Matip spoke to the media.
He was quoted by the club’s official website as saying: “I am ready but I have work to do on my body.
“This is another league, so I will have to work on my body to play here and to be physically strong for the Premier League.
“I decided to do it myself, but I think the coaching staff and manager will help me reach this level and to be fit for the season.
“Of course, the Bundesliga is at a high level. Maybe it’s a different level, but it’s also a high level and I think I have got enough to play here.”
Matip seems to suggest that he is not quite fully prepared for the Premier League, despite opening by saying the opposite.
On one hand, these quotes might worry Liverpool fans as they could be concerned that their new signing is likely to get overpowered in England.
However, it is rather refreshing for a player to admit a specific area in which he must improve. So long as he does put the work in, Matip could well be a big hit at Anfield.
Matip is set to become the 26th Cameroonian to play in the Premier League – the second to represent Liverpool, after Rigobert Song.