After one month.
The Liverpool squad, a collection of world-class superstars and hungry young talents, had been forged in the fire of Arne Slot's intense tactical sessions.
The atmosphere in the gym on the final day before their first pre-season match was a perfect, buzzing cocktail of peak physical conditioning and pure, unadulterated silliness.
"I'm telling you, it's about aerodynamic efficiency," Trent was explaining with the dead-serious tone of an aerospace engineer, gesturing to his new, fluorescent yellow boots. "This particular shade of yellow cuts through the air 0.2% faster than last season's orange. It's just science."
Virgil van Dijk, who was effortlessly lifting a weight that looked like a small car, just raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"Or," the captain said, his voice a calm, deep rumble, "it just makes you easier for the opposition to see, so they know who to tackle first."
