Interview'We're all hungry and excited to go' - Joe Gomez on pre-season, Iraola impressions and more

The Reds' opening group of players were back at the AXA Training Centre and put to work this week following the summer break.

Gomez, who is entering his 12th season on Merseyside, is well versed in how important this period of the campaign can be.

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"It's definitely a chance to build a foundation that can give you such a good base for the season," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"I think in that regard it's hard to state how important it is. I think I've learned out of time you want to try and navigate it the best way where you adapt but also get through it healthy and ready to go. Everyone deals with it differently, but it is important for us all."

Read on for the rest of the interview.

On the summer break and feeling refreshed...

Yeah, definitely. It was nice to get such an extended period to switch off and be with the family. Definitely refreshed looking forward to the new campaign.

On being a senior figure in the returning group...

I guess it's one you kind of grow into – it's not like an instant thing. I think with time I've got more used to it. Everyone does it in their own way and in my way I enjoy it. It's just something that over the last season or two I've got more used to it. Until the likes of Virgil [van Dijk] and Ali [Becker] and so on are back with us, I'm probably one of the older ones here.

On his 12th pre-season at Liverpool...

Every single one's different obviously and we've got a new gaffer now. That's a big variable that's changed. But in terms of understanding the club, I'm pretty well tuned. I think when I look at it from different perspectives, sometimes it feels like it has been 12 [seasons], and sometimes I can kind of condense it and it's like, 'Wow, that's quick!'. There's obviously been ups and downs, but I've enjoyed the journey and I'm definitely grateful.

• Andoni Iraola interview: Pre-season, implementing his style and fitness update

On the arrival of Iraola and his first impressions...

Really, really good. He seems like a really nice guy. It's obviously massively impressive what he did at Bournemouth and how he got them to perform. I think we're all looking forward to it and we're all excited to have him. We're all hungry and excited to go.

On the mood being high at the training ground...

Definitely. I think it's a combination of a new gaffer and having such a good break. At the end of the day, we love what we do and we're always going to be excited to come back and get ready.

On the ambitions for the season ahead...

It's to just have a good year and enjoy it and try and get better. I think it's always key – you can always learn, keep learning, keep progressing and enjoy the ride.

• Buy tickets for the Reds' three USA pre-season games here