The sight of Joe Gomez matching James Milner in the running exercises that are a hallmark of Liverpool's first day of pre-season will have been a welcome one for supporters.

Having taken part in the Uefa Nations League with England earlier this summer, the 22-year-old was in fact entitled to delay his return to Melwood until later this month.

However, he made an early appearance on Saturday hoping to make up for lost time after missing much of the second half of last season with a broken leg sustained at Burnley in December.

The defender then went stride-for-stride with vice-captain Milner during the lactate test - a running drill designed to assess the player's fitness levels after their time off.

Asked about his impressive showing, Gomez told the club's official website: "It’s probably as strenuous as it can get – it’s a maximal test, you go until you can’t go anymore.

Liverpool squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 25 show all Liverpool squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 1/25 We run you through Liverpool's squad for the 2019-20 season... EPA 2/25 Alisson Becker Squad Number: 1



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Condition: Knock (late fitness test)



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images/Liverpool FC 9/25 Roberto Firmino Squad Number: 9



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Action Images via Reuters 17/25 Adam Lallana Squad Number: 20



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Contract expires: 30/06/2020 Action images via Reuters 18/25 Xherdan Shaqiri Squad Number: 23



Condition: Calf injury (late fitness test)



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 19/25 Rhian Brewster Squad Number: 24



Condition: Fit (on loan at Swansea)



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 20/25 Andrew Robertson Squad Number: 26



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Contract expires: New long-term deal signed on 10/07/2019 Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images 22/25 Joel Matip Squad Number: 32



Condition: Ankle injury (Ruled out)



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 1/25 We run you through Liverpool's squad for the 2019-20 season... EPA 2/25 Alisson Becker Squad Number: 1



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 EPA 3/25 Fabinho Squad Number: 3



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 PA/Peter Byrne 4/25 Virgil van Dijk Squad Number: 4



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images 5/25 Georginio Wijnaldum Squad Number: 5



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 PA 6/25 Dejan Lovren Squad Number: 6



Condition: Knock (late fitness test)



Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 7/25 James Milner Squad Number: 7



Condition: Ready to return



Contract expires: 30/06/2022 AFP/Getty Images 8/25 Naby Keita Squad Number: 8



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images/Liverpool FC 9/25 Roberto Firmino Squad Number: 9



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 AFP/Getty Images 10/25 Sadio Mane Squad Number: 10



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images/Liverpool FC 11/25 Mohamed Salah Squad Number: 11



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 AFP/Getty Images 12/25 Joe Gomez Squad Number: 12



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 EPA 13/25 Adrian Squad Number: 13



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West Ham United FC via Getty Ima 14/25 Jordan Henderson Squad Number: 14



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 PA 15/25 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Squad Number: 15



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images 16/25 Takumi Minamino Squad Number: 18



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Action Images via Reuters 17/25 Adam Lallana Squad Number: 20



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Contract expires: 30/06/2020 Action images via Reuters 18/25 Xherdan Shaqiri Squad Number: 23



Condition: Calf injury (late fitness test)



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 19/25 Rhian Brewster Squad Number: 24



Condition: Fit (on loan at Swansea)



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 20/25 Andrew Robertson Squad Number: 26



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 21/25 Divock Origi Squad Number: 27



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Contract expires: New long-term deal signed on 10/07/2019 Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images 22/25 Joel Matip Squad Number: 32



Condition: Ankle injury (Ruled out)



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 David Blunsden/Action Plus 23/25 Trent Alexander-Arnold Squad Number: 66



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 REUTERS 24/25 Kamil Grabara Squad Number: 73



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 25/25 Sepp van den Berg Squad Number: 72



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Liverpool FC via Getty Images

"Everyone knows how fit Millie is, he’s a machine, but I tried to do as much as I could in the off-season to come back as fit as possible.

"It’s nice to be up there competing with him, to get to that stage, but Millie speaks for himself!

"Obviously it is as intense as you’d expect when you first come back, a lot of running and dusting the cobwebs off. But it feels good, it’s nice to be back.

"It was nice to end on such a high last season and we just want to carry on where we left off and keep the momentum going."

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Last season saw Gomez lift his first piece of silverware since arriving at Anfield in 2015 as Liverpool beat Tottenham to clinch Champions League glory.

But that success hasn't sated the desire in the dressing room, the Englishman revealed, particularly after a near miss in the Premier League last term.

He added: "[The manager] said that this morning in the meeting. We can be happy and proud of the achievement but we’ve got so much more work to do and so many ways to improve as well.

"The Premier League was so close and I think that’s all the motivation we need, that we were so close but so far at the same time in the fact that we didn’t get it.

"It’s something we want to get this year and to do so we can’t get complacent or dwell on what happened last season, we have to hit the ground running again now."

Joel Matip's impressive form ensured Gomez was unable to reclaim his place at centre-back after recovering from the leg break that ended his own strong start to the season.

But the former Charlton starlet believes his versatility could help him find a route back into the starting XI in the early stages of this campaign.

He continued: I’ve played a number of positions over the years I’ve been here. I like to excel in one and nail that spot but I’m happy to play wherever for the team and the manager.

"It’s just about development in whatever way I can and doing all the extra bits I can to develop off the pitch as well as on it. Hopefully things fall into place.

"This is my fifth season now and I’ve had a lot of experience at the club and learned a lot here. But I’m still so young, I’ve got so much left to learn. I’ve got to keep developing, keep progressing and stay hungry."