The annual pre-season lactase test of Liverpool, known for its grueling nature, witnessed two new winners this year in the absence of fitness enthusiast James Milner.
Milner, who had dominated the test since joining the club in 2015 until his departure at the ripe age of 36, was succeeded by two exceptional players.
What is a lactase test?
The lactase test measures players’ lactic acid levels at increasing distances, eliminating those with excessively high levels.
At each checkpoint, a blood sample is taken from the players’ ears to evaluate their lactic acid concentration.
The Lactase test kings of Liverpool
The challenge was so intense that even Andy Robertson admitted to vomiting on his first attempt upon joining Liverpool.
Former player Kevin Stewart was considered Milner’s closest competitor in the test, but with his move to Brighton, it was time for others to step up.
The Egyptian king
And step up they did. Mo Salah, Liverpool’s Egyptian King, showcased his incredible fitness levels and emerged victorious, smashing the test alongside teammates Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk.
Salah’s impressive performance comes as no surprise, considering his extraordinary 7km treadmill time.
The Hungarian ruled
However, another group took part in the test, and it was the new signing, Dominik Szoboszlai, who outlasted his new teammates, including Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Cody Gakpo.
Szoboszlai’s display demonstrated not only his technical abilities but also the required energy levels to thrive under Jurgen Klopp’s management.
Why this test?
The lactase test offers several benefits. According to EKF Diagnostics, the equipment supplier,
“Testing and improving lactate threshold within a training program can be used to make stronger and faster athletes.”
Liverpool’s training session, culminating in the lactase test, ended when Jurgen Klopp playfully awarded Mohamed Salah saying,
“And the James Milner award goes to…Mohamed Szalah”
The test pushes players to their limits, measuring their lactic acid levels during intervals of running at varying speeds.
Once the acid level exceeds a certain threshold, fatigue, and cramps set in, signaling the end of the test.
The new winners
The training footage, uploaded to Liverpool’s official YouTube channel, revealed two groups of players participating in the test.
Salah secured victory in the first group, while Szoboszlai claimed the top spot in the second group, although Salah outlasted him overall.
The rest of the squad, who had begun training the previous week, completed the test earlier, with Darwin Nunez emerging as the top performer in that group.
Szoboszlai was warmly congratulated by his colleagues for his achievement.
As Liverpool prepares for the upcoming season, Trent Alexander-Arnold, expressed surprise at the results of the captain of the Hungarian national team.
Szoboszlai shared his thoughts on the challenging training, describing it as “really hard but really good”.
The Hungarian midfielder and his teammates will have their first pre-season warm-up game on July 19 against second-tier German team Karlsruhe.
This match will mark an important step in their preparations for the upcoming season.
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