Jurgen Klopp is planning to take Liverpool’s non-internationals on another warm-weather training camp in Tenerife during March’s interval.
The Reds have only recently returned from a short spell in La Manga, with the German utilising their 16-day break to provide his squad another “pre-season.”
Though they went on to suffer a 3-1 loss to Leicester City on their return, Klopp will be hoping the additional training in different conditions benefits his squad in the long run.
This proved to be the case last season, when Liverpool jetted off to Tenerife during the March international break, going unbeaten in their next seven games in all competitions.
Kolo Toure, Alberto Moreno, Jon Flanagan, Cameron Brannagan and Pedro Chirivella were among those to fly out to the island last year, with the majority of Klopp’s first-team stars on international duty.
It will be much the same case this time around, with Klopp looking to use the time to run the rule over some of his peripheral figures and young players.
They will be joined by their families, too, as the 49-year-old hopes to inject some more positivity into his group and push for a successful end to the campaign.
Liverpool have three more games before the March break, against Arsenal (H), Burnley (H) and Man City (A), clinging to a top-four push with just 12 outings to go until the end of the campaign.
Beyond their subsequent results last season, one of the key positives to come from last year’s trip to Tenerife was Klopp’s exposure to some of the Reds’ youngsters.
Shamal George, Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Maguire, Connor Randall, Alex O’Hanlon, Adam Phillips, Ryan Kent and Ovie Ejaria all joined their senior colleagues in Spain, in an invaluable exercise.
George clearly caught the eye, with the goalkeeper included in travelling squads towards the end of 2015/16 as well as Liverpool’s pre-season fixtures in the summer.
It was Ejaria in particular who benefited from the trip, however, with the midfielder rising through the ranks in the academy to take up a regular role in the first team.
He has made eight appearances this season so far, including two substitute outings in the Premier League, and is likely to continue his development into a prominent role under Klopp in the future.
Conor Masterson and Yan Dhanda both travelled with the squad to La Manga, and it is likely that Kelleher, Kamil Grabara, Juanma, Madger Gomes and Rhian Brewster could be among those to join them this time.
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