Interview'We know how good they are' – Fabinho welcomes Mac Allister and Szoboszlai

Mac Allister and Szoboszlai will soon begin 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.

Fabinho was part of the first group of players to kick off work for 2023-24 in Kirkby on Saturday and expressed his excitement to link up with the team’s new midfield recruits.

“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],” the No.3 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.”

• LFCTV GO is the only place this summer where you can follow every step of Liverpool's 2023 pre-season. Sign up now at Liverpoolfc.com/watch and get a month free by using the code GOFREE23.

Inside Training: Behind the scenes on day one of pre-season