Lambert: Dortmund is a great test
As Rickie Lambert prepares for his first appearance at Anfield in a Liverpool shirt, he believes Sunday's match-up against Borussia Dortmund will be a reflection of the team's development throughout pre-season against yet more quality opposition.
The England international admits he can't wait to line up in front of the Kop for the first time in a red shirt wearing the famous No.9 jersey, and is eager to make an instant impression.
"I've come to learn that the week before the season, and the last pre-season game, is when you get a sense of how well the team's done over pre-season," Lambert told Liverpoolfc.com.
"All the other games are about training hard to get the fitness in, so the sharpness may not be as good as you want it to be. But, the last game is about getting back and ready for the first game of the season.
"It's great opposition, again. The lads are in good shape, I'm looking forward to it and it's in front of the home fans as well so I can't wait."
With next weekend's season opener against his former club fast approaching, Lambert knows full well the importance of building his and the team's fitness even more against Dortmund, but admitted that finding the back of the net at Anfield is also on his list of priorities.
He added: "I want to get a goal, if I can get a goal that'll be brilliant.
"It's another run-out and I'm getting fitter. I've gone into games not feeling that sharp, but that's what you want, if you know what I mean; you want to be tired going into the games because you're working so hard in training.
"When the Southampton game is coming up, that's when you'll get the rest, in the lead up, when you've got that sharpness."
Remember that LFCTV GO subscribers can watch the Reds take on Borussia Dortmund live this Sunday, with coverage starting from 11.15am.