The influence of Pep Lijnders was clear as the Liverpool players were put through their paces in the searing heat of Charlotte.

The Dutchman, who was brought back to the club by Jurgen Klopp this summer, was in the thick of it, barking orders and ensuring standards remained high.

Lijnders has clearly taken on greater responsibility alongside Peter Krawietz in pre-season in the continued absence of first assistant coach Zeljko Buvac.

Liverpool insist the situation is unchanged with Buvac - he remains a club employee and has been away since April due to 'personal reasons'.

However, the ECHO understands that the Bosnian Serb won't be returning and his 17-year working relationship with Klopp is effectively over. His exit is likely to be confirmed over the coming weeks.

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Klopp isn't looking to make any further additions to his backroom staff with Lijnders filling the Buvac void.

Prior to a short stint as a manager in his homeland, Lijnders was the Reds' first-team development coach - the key link between the Academy and Melwood - but this time around he has yet to be given an official job title.

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Stateside Reds fans sing Allez Allez Allez at BOSS night event in Charlotte, NC

Lijnders is a popular figure among the players and highly respected. Ben Woodburn was coached by him at Kirkby before they both made the leap to the senior set-up.

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The Wales international wasn't surprised that Klopp moved swiftly to bring him back to Liverpool after he parted company with NEC Nijmegen in May.

"Pep is so enthusiastic and his football brain is crazy," Woodburn told the ECHO after walking off the training pitch in Charlotte.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"He knows so much about football. You can see on the pitch how much he wants to be there and I think it pays off and shows with the squad on the pitch.

"He was the link between the first team and the Academy when I was coming through. He's the same now as the season I had with him when was our under-16s coach. He's helped me so much."