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Joe Gomez says Liverpool's returning players are eager to begin pre-season work under new head coach Andoni Iraola. The opening group of players reported back to the AXA Training Centre this week following the summer break.
"It's definitely a chance to build a foundation that can give you such a good base for the season," Gomez said. "I think in that regard it's hard to state how important it is."
Gomez, who is entering his 12th season on Merseyside, acknowledged the significance of the pre-season period. "I think I've learned out of time you want to try to navigate it the best way where you adapt but also get through it healthy and ready to go," he added.
On Iraola, who impressed at Bournemouth before taking the Liverpool job, Gomez was positive. "He seems like a really nice guy. It's obviously massively impressive what he did at Bournemouth and how he got them to perform. We're all hungry and excited to go," the defender said.
Gomez described himself as one of the more senior figures in the group currently at the training ground, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker yet to return. He said the mood among the squad was high, attributing it to both the appointment of a new manager and a lengthy summer break.
Liverpool's pre-season includes three matches in the United States.