Reds 'hungrier than ever' ahead of new Premier League season

The new Premier League season gets underway in less than two weeks, and Liverpool FC’s players are determined to defend their title.

Liverpool FC get their title defence under way against newly promoted Leeds United FC on Saturday week, and defender Joe Gomez says he and his teammates are ready to defend their title.

The Reds secured their first ever Premier League trophy – and their first league championship in 30 years – last season, and Gomez is convinced they can do it all again in what will be a condensed fixture list as a result of COVID-19.

The 23-year-old centre-back, speaking after the FA Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on penalties, told LiverpoolFC.com: "Obviously it was a short break and then we had the restart and then the period when we switched off for a couple of weeks and that was that.

"But I think more than anything, the gaffer instils in us that it’s a mental battle more than physical half the time, so we’ll be ready and we have a squad full of quality to rotate when needs be.

"The main thing is, mentally we are ready to go. And I think everyone is hungrier than ever.”

Takumi Minamino opened his Reds account against Arsenal FC at Wembley and manager Jürgen Klopp feels that first goal for the club capped an impressive pre-season from the 25-year-old.

The January signing from Red Bull Salzburg will be an important asset this season, says his manager, who believes that Saturday’s equaliser will be the first goal of many from Minamino.

"It was big for him and big for us because it was the only thing he lacked since he is with us,” said Klopp.

"He didn’t score a goal [before], but had situations and was close in plenty of moments. That helped of course.

"The shape he is in is obviously good, I think everybody could see when he came on. Then, the goal is more or less the logical step after performing on the level he performs now, especially in the pre-season.

"I am very pleased for him; it was very important for us to stay in the game and for him, just to make this first important step.”

The focus now shifts to one week from Saturday, when LFC get reacquainted with the newly promoted Leeds United FC.

Klopp is still uncertain whether captain Jordan Henderson and defender Joel Matip will be fit enough to face Marcelo Bielsa’s side, but he does expect both players to train in some capacity next week.

"I think Joel and Hendo will be in parts of team training next week and we will see,” added the boss.

“Of course, the longer they have the better the chance is, but I don’t know in this moment.”

Finally, Liverpool Football Club has a new chief executive officer.

Billy Hogan takes over the CEO role occupied for the last three years by Peter Moore, and says his immediate priority is to plan for when supporters can once again cheer on the Reds at Anfield.

“We’ve obviously got incredibly solid foundations but these are uncertain times, so we’ve got to manage through that uncertainty,” said Hogan.

“It has been a difficult last five or six months since we went into lockdown, but I think the great news is that the team, both on and off the pitch, has been able to work through that.

“We’re just looking forward to starting the campaign as champions. Now it’s my job to lead the business and ensure we support Jürgen and Michael [Edwards] and the team at Melwood as best we can.”

Hogan has one main aim as CEO - to make it as easy as possible for Klopp’s men to keep winning trophies.

“This is Liverpool Football Club, we’re focused on winning trophies – that’s ultimately the vision,” he added.

“I’ve been involved with the club now for 10 years, worked for the club full-time for eight years.

“Really it’s about how we create a sustainable organisation. My role is to help lead and work alongside an incredibly talented group of people off the pitch to help support what happens on the pitch.

“The vision remains the same.

“We want to win trophies, we want to continue to do what Jürgen and the team have done, which has been incredibly successful over the last couple of seasons, and continue to build on that.”