As Liverpool players take part in the pre-season preparations, check out the released footage of the infamous lactate test 2023/24 edition, and find out who is the next lactate test king following James Milner’s departure along with the test explained
Premier club Liverpool recently shared some footage of this season’s edition of their brutal and infamous lactate test.
What is the Liverpool lactate test meaning explained, results and 2023 winner prediction
James Milner won the club's pre-season lactate test 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙔 𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙍 during his time at the club.
Who wins it this year? Give us your best guesses👇 #LFC #LFCFamily pic.twitter.com/eGbDs2CJh6
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) July 7, 2023
Liverpool’s Lactate Test.
Similar to the Gacon, it measures a player's aerobic endurance, with increasing distances/speeds at 5-6 intervals.
Blood is taken from the athlete’s ear at each interval. If they’re below the threshold, they continue.
Last man standing wins. https://t.co/bW8A6ZgOEz
— STATSports (@statsports) July 9, 2023
Ahead of the start of the preseason training, Liverpool confirmed that the likes of Stefan Bajcetic, Joel Matip, Darwin Nunez and Thiago Alcantara will return to training on day one.
Meanwhile, the other stars involved in international matches are returning today on Tuesday.
Liverpool lactate test 2023/24 edition
The infamous Liverpool lactate test measures a player’s aerobic endurance based on running increasing distances at speed. Officials take a blood sample at each checkpoint from each player’s ear to measure their lactic acid level. Players who’s acid levels are too high, drop out and the test ends with the last man standing.
EKF Diagnostics, a company that provides some of the equipment for the test, stated that it is used to:
“learn the highest intensity at which a footballer can train or compete before hitting the wall from high levels of blood lactate. Once you surpass this threshold, lactic acid will start to build up in your muscles faster than your body can remove it, eventually leading to fatigue. Testing and improving lactate threshold within a training program can be used to make stronger and faster athletes.”
James Milner lactate test king
Prior to his departure from the club, James Milner was regarded the lactate test king winning Liverpool’s lactate test every time he was at the club. The 37-year-old recently left Liverpool this summer having played 331 times for the club. He has won a Premier League title, a Champions League, an FA Cup and a Carabao Cup with the club.
The veteran footballer doesn’t drink alcohol and always keeps himself in brilliant shape even throughout the summer. In last year’s pre-season training, he ran 8.5km in 34 minutes. He has most notably, won the notorious lactate test every year during his time at Liverpool.
Liverpool 2023/24 edition lactate test
Liverpool shared this season’s lactate test footage on Saturday, which took place on the first day of pre-season. In the clip, viewers can see Fabinho, Darwin Nunez, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all taking part in the test. Although the footage doesn’t show who won this year, no player can undoubtedly come close to Milner’s levels.
Salah has been working hard over the summer break and is respected for his fitness levels, while captain Jordan Henderson sets high standards in training. He too has been putting his body through intense workouts as they prepare for the new campaign and another challenger could be Joe Gomez, who was a runner-up to Milner during their time at Anfield together, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has been also impressed with his fitness levels in previous years. He has been on a tailored fitness regime of his own this summer.
Andy Robertson on Liverpool’s pre-season training
Liverpool player Andy Robertson, who recently featured on the Peter Crouch podcast, was asked about his take on Liverpool’s pre-season training and about ever seeing another player quite as fit as Milner.
In response, Robertson shared:
We are a fit team, there are a lot of players who have great engines – Hendo, Gini, Robbo. But Milly, I don’t think I’ll ever see anyone as fit as him. I remember a few years ago Kev Stewart would give him a run for his money in pre-season. But considering his age and how long he’s played for, to still be the fittest player in arguably the fittest team in the world, and by some margin, that takes some doing.”
Aside from that, Robertson also recalled his first day at the club and his first experience with the lactate test. He shared:
The day I signed we got the tour of the stadium and stuff and that is when it really hits home. But I remember my first day, there was only six or seven of us because it was pre-season, so only a few of us in and Danny Ings was just coming back from long-term injury.
He further added:
My medical took two days so I didn’t really eat, so I put it down to that and I was tired. Ingsy was talking to me on the way round and I could just feel it, I knew something wasn’t right. I tried to hold it in my mouth and I just had to let it go. It was terrible. Day one!