Liverpool fullback Kostas Tsimikas says it's been an intense preseason.

The Reds are on a week-long retreat in Austria as they ramp up their preparations for the new campaign, with the Premier League opener at Fulham now less than a fortnight away.

"If you've never done this pre-season you can't feel or understand how tough it is," said the Greece international. "Saturday we had two hard sessions and Sunday was a running session. It's all about being 100% ready physically because this is what we need at the moment. We have a very, very tough season and we have to be 100% ready.

"It's very hard as always, very tough and very competitive. All the boys are working very hard. We have set our goals like last year, we will go for it and that's why we work for it.

"I think everybody is absolutely ready for the coming challenges and we are really looking forward to it."