Fabinho interview: Return to pre-season and new midfield recruits
Fabinho explained how he has returned to pre-season training well-rested and determined to help Liverpool produce a fruitful 2023-24 campaign.
The Brazilian was among the first cohort of Reds that reported to the AXA Training Centre on Saturday morning to begin preparations for the term ahead.
Having enjoyed time recharging the batteries in his homeland, the No.3 is now glad to be back with his teammates and putting in the hard yards, as they collectively set their sights on delivering success.
Fabinho told Liverpoolfc.com: "It's good to be back. I personally had a really nice time on my holidays, I rested the body and mind.
"Yes, we are ready to be back, to work. Today we had a nice little session, running session, and it's good to start work again to see how the legs feel, the body in general. It's good.
"I always face my time off in the same way – try to enjoy [time] with my family, enjoy the weather, enjoy the place I've come from in Brazil. I always try to do the same thing.
"Now the focus is always the same – to try to prepare [and] do a really nice pre-season and be ready for this season.
"The last season was a little bit different [than] we are used to. So, yes, we have to make sure that we are ready to be back fighting for all the trophies again."
Fabinho is also keenly looking forward to teaming up with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai and helping the pair flourish swiftly for Liverpool.
Mac Allister and Szoboszlai will soon begin their pre-season preparations at the AXA Training Centre having completed moves to the Reds over the summer.
World Cup winner Mac Allister arrives from Brighton & Hove Albion, where he shone in the Premier League, while Szoboszlai followed from RB Leipzig, for whom he scored 20 goals, provided 22 assists and won two DFB-Pokals in 91 appearances.
"We lost, I think, three midfield players that were really important for us in the last maybe five, six years. It's good to bring some good players in that position because we will need [them]," Fabinho told Liverpoolfc.com.
"In the way we play, the intensity we play, we always need not just three or four but maybe six players in this position [in the squad].
"So yes, it's good to have these two players with us now. We played against them already, so we know how good they are. It's good to have them in the team."
Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were among those to depart Liverpool after the conclusion of the last campaign, which saw Jürgen Klopp's side finish fifth in the league.
And asked about the process of 'building something new' ahead of the upcoming season, Fabinho explained: "Yes, football is like this.
"Sometimes we will lose some very good friends. That's the case with Bobby; he's gone, so I wish him and his family all the best.
"We have to focus on the players that we have now. At the moment, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai have arrived. I didn't see them yet, they have a couple more days of holidays.
"We just hope that they will be ready to be with us. We will help them in the adaptation and hope they will be ready and get the ideas of the team as quick as possible."