- Liverpool have signed highly regarded goalkeeping coach Fabian Otte, aged just 33
- Otte used unusual techniques during a drill designed to improve passing
- Listen to It’s all about to begin! EUROS DAILY: Will Gareth Southgate’s legacy remain intact no matter what happens in the final?
Liverpool’s goalkeepers used some unusual equipment during a pre-season training exercise as their new coaches made their mark on the sessions.
The new era at Anfield has officially begun as Arne Slot and his coaching staff put a host of players through their paces after returning from holiday.
Slot is currently prioritising improving his fitness, a method used by legendary former coach Jurgen Klopp, who wanted to get his pupils match-ready.
Shortly after signing a three-year contract, Slot completed the formation of his replacements. Aaron Briggs was hired as elite development coach, while No 2 Sipke Hulshoff and lead physical performance coach Ruben Peeters also arrived.
But the most notable addition seems to be Fabian Otte, head goalkeeping coach of the first team. Otte is only 33 years old and joined the United States national team shortly after his stint as coach of the Copa America at Liverpool.
Liverpool’s goalkeepers wore special goggles and headphones during a pre-season friendly
Fabian Otte (right), the club’s new goalkeeping coach, presented the glasses to Fabian Mrozek
Otte interrupted his vacation after just one week to get started right away. It seems that he quickly introduced groundbreaking new methods.
The Reds stoppers were caught wearing noise-cancelling headphones and glasses that restricted their field of vision, in an attempt to increase their confidence with the ball at their feet – a key feature of Slots’ favoured playing style.
In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, youth goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek was given a pair of glasses by Otte before starting the exercise.
On the other side of the field, one of his teammates wore a large pair of headphones.
The players had to take turns to perform a pass, while being pressured by their coaches, using large inflatable dolls to represent the opponent.
The new era under Arne Slot has officially started with a large number of players reporting
With the use of sound-absorbing equipment, goalkeeper training seemed ultra-modern
Players like Mohamed Salah have returned to the AXA Training Centre for pre-season training
Otte previously worked with goalkeepers at Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hoffenheim in Germany, as well as the New Zealand women’s national team.
Head coach Slot was pleased with Otte’s quick return to the field.
“He also had a tournament, he was on the American team,” he said. “Unfortunately for him, they pulled out of the tournament. I gave him a couple of weeks off, but he said, ‘No, I want to come as soon as possible.’ He’s already there after a week’s vacation.
“I think you like to see that. Although vacation is important, you like to see staff and players wanting to come in as early as possible to join the team and help us have, hopefully, a really good season.”