'Preparation and preparation' – that is the agenda for Jürgen Klopp this week.

Liverpool’s summer work concluded with their eighth pre-season friendly on Saturday, a 3-1 victory over Athletic Club in Dublin that followed up trips to Hong Kong and Germany.

The new Premier League campaign is now firmly in sight and the Reds kick off 2017-18 by journeying to Vicarage Road to face Watford in just four days’ time.

Before then, Klopp – who cannot wait for the competitive action to begin – will carefully tweak his team to meet the needs of the clash with the Hornets.

“We have to get a little bit of fresh legs back, but that will happen,” the manager told Liverpoolfc.com of the pre-Watford plans.

“Tactical things – we’ll have an exact look at what Watford will ask of us system-wise and things like this; preparation and preparation.

“We will be prepared and hopefully it’s good enough to win.

“I’m excited. I’ve been looking forward to the first game since we started pre-season. I’m not the best in pre-season – I’m not very patient. I’m happy that we can start.”