Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge is hopeful that the "most intense" pre-season he has had in his career will allow him to build a good base of fitness for the season ahead.
The prolific striker's injury woes are well-known, having missed 75 games through injury since moving to Anfield in January 2013,
But despite featuring just 25 times in all competitions, he still managed 13 goals - including a stunning outside-of-the-boot strike from distance in the Reds' Europa League final defeat in May.
With Jürgen Klopp keen to ensure Sturridge stays fit for a full season, having seen recent years ravaged by hamstring, hip and thigh problems, he has designed a number of demanding sessions.
Liverpool are currently out in the US, making use of the excellent facilities at Stanford University, working to get the squad into the best shape possible as well as teaching them tactically to improve their game.
Sturridge admits it's quite unlike any other pre-season he's taken part in, but insists he's enjoying it and hopes it can have a positive impact on him going into the new season.
Asked about their pre-season programme, the 26-year-old told Liverpoolfc.com that it's "a lot more intense" than previous years and "probably the most intense" he has "ever experienced at any club."
"It's just a different intensity and different kind of pre-season," explained the England international, who featured at Euro 2016 over the summer, adding that it's "certainly something that everyone is getting used to" and will put them "in good stead for the season."
Sturridge: There's been a lot of hard work so far
Sturridge said that there has been "a lot of hard work" and "a lot of running sessions" at their Palo Alto training base, as well as "tactical sessions", which he admitted have all been "going well."
On his personal fitness, the Reds' No.15 declared that he's "feeling fresh" and said "pre-season is about pushing your body to the limits" so there have been "a lot of sessions" in which he and his teammates have had to "push" themselves through.
The new Premier League season is little over two weeks away, with the trip to Arsenal the opening game in Klopp's first full season on Merseyside.
Sturridge, who has been back with the squad almost a week after an extended summer break followed international duty, will be keen to start the season fit and firing.
The 2016-17 season follows first nine months in which Klopp guided the club to two cup finals, one of which ended the last campaign in disappointing fashion as Liverpool threw away a half-time lead to lose out to Sevilla.
Sturridge, however, insisted that the game is "in the past" and is "gone." He acknowledged that the team reflected on it "at the time" but have since tried to "move forward" and "put it behind" them.
He said they must "focus on the future" and there "hopefully being more finals and success for the team" as he added: "You learn from your mistakes and that's the most important thing."