Liverpool FC will be prepared for their trip to Stoke City next weekend, according to manager Brendan Rodgers, who batted away claims that their pre-season campaign has left them unprepared.
The Reds won their penultimate pre-season fixture away at HJK Helsinki on Saturday, ahead of their final warm-up game at Swindon Town the next day - which is likely to be played with a slightly weakened starting side.
Rodgers took a strong 16-man squad to Finland, which included numerous first-team regulars, many of whom are expected to start at the Britannia Stadium.
Rodgers pleased with his side's performance level
After the game, the Northern Irishman insisted that it was a "good workout" for his squad, as goals from Divock Origi and Philippe Coutinho gave them a 2-0 win at the Olympic Stadium.
The Liverpool boss said that his side's fluency was "much better" in the second-half, but that their rhythm throughout was good.
He believes that the squad "is coming along well" with the additions of Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Emre Can all still to be added in.
None of the trio were involved in the Reds' tour of the Far East and Australia, which involved "a lot of travel" according to Rodgers - who said they "adapted incredibly well" but that they "got as much work into the players" as possible.
The 42-year-old stated that he was pleased with his side's fitness, due to the fact they were still pressing late into the stages of the second-half, comparing that to Helsinki - who are halfway through their domestic season and in a "really good condition."
Talking about the opponents, he said Helsinki made it a "tough game" but that Liverpool "looked stronger the longer the game went on."
He told supporters to expect the intensity and pressing that they showed "for the full 90 minutes" in Staffordshire next Sunday, due to the fact there's still a week to go to improve their fitness levels.
Rodgers insisted that his side are "very much" looking forward to the game at Stoke and that it is the "perfect opportunity" not only to get the season started, but to "put to bed the horrendous result" the Reds suffered there on the last day of the 2014-15 season.
Benteke and Firmino's Stoke involvement undecided
Having admitted that he's not yet decided on his centre-back partnership for the trip to the Potteries, Rodgers admitted that the whether Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino will be involved is something he also has to think about.
He said that the pair have only just come into the club last week, and that they "aren't as far down the road as the other players" despite training well.
The Northern Irishman continued that both of the two will play at Swindon Town on Sunday for the club's final pre-season friendly, but says their exclusions from the trip to Finland was only to allow them more training time back at Melwood.
He further said that he will look at where the two "are at" ahead of the game at Stoke, though he has a "good idea" for the team he will select - depending on where the squad are at fitness-wise.
Rodgers hails "outstanding" goalscorer Coutinho
One man who is likely to be in that starting side is Philippe Coutinho, who marked his return with an excellent strike in Helsinki.
He came back into the side for the first time since last season after enjoying a longer summer break because of his contributions to the Brazil national team's Copa America campaign.
The 23-year-old has come back in "really good condition" according to Rodgers, who hailed his work over the summer to maintain his great shape.
He said that Coutinho's involvement on Saturday was "about getting as many minutes" for him as possible, as he featured for 80 minutes before being replaced by Pedro Chirivella.
Rodgers labelled his "influence" on the game as "outstanding" due to the fact that he adds "real fluency" to their attacking line-up.
Rodgers considering front-line options
Benteke comes into the squad to bolster their options in the striking department, with Danny Ings another potential option to start at Stoke after impressing in his pre-season displays.
Ings and Benteke will also compete with Divock Origi, who found the back of the net for the second time in Scandinavia, whilst Daniel Sturridge is expected to return from injury before Christmas.
And Rodgers, after the summer additions, said he is "pleased" with the variety of forwards they have available.
On £32.5 million Benteke, he said the Belgian is "tall but has good speed" but also has good mobility and quick feet, which allow him to score "all different types of goals."
Rodgers added that whilst Benteke is good in the air, "he's also very good on the floor" and fits in perfectly to what the Reds already have in their ranks.
He said that irrespective of the striker's build, his archetypal sides are all about "fluency, pace and movement" - with Ings and Origi fitting those moulds.
The Northern Irishman said the pair "are different types" and that Firmino, another who can play up top, shows good movement even though he isn't an "out-and-out number nine."
The manager said he has "real good variety" to choose from, which helps bring some beneficial unpredictability when it comes to changing it up against different opponents, but that the principle philosophy remains the same - in trying to control the tempo and dominate possession, as well as pressurising their opponents via high pressing.