Liverpool Football Club has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, with 22 senior players missing games due to injury last season alone. This resulted in a total of 362 games missed, which is clearly unsustainable. Recognizing the need for change, the club has brought in Arne Slot as the new lead physical performance coach.
One of Slot’s key appointments is Ruben Peeters, who followed him from Feyenoord to take on the role of first-team lead physical performance coach. Peeters was instrumental in creating one of the most successful medical and performance departments in world football during his time at Feyenoord. Player availability levels at the Dutch club were consistently above 90 percent, a figure that Liverpool is desperate to achieve.
Peeters is renowned for his attention to detail and his constant search for ways to optimize player performance. He pays close attention to factors such as sleep and diet, understanding that these elements can have a significant impact on a player’s overall fitness. Slot himself is known for listening to experts and taking their advice on board, as evidenced by his willingness to follow Peeters’ meticulous briefing on training duration at Feyenoord.
The new coaching duo will have their work cut out for them, especially with players like Virgil van Dijk expressing exhaustion after a grueling season. Van Dijk’s recovery and overall well-being will require close attention from Peeters and the medical department. While Liverpool did not bring the entire medical and performance team from Feyenoord, the patience and big-picture thinking of Peeters and Slot bode well for positive change at the club.
It is still early days, and integrating the new staff with the existing team will take time. However, early signs are promising, and fans are hopeful that this summer will mark a turning point in Liverpool’s injury struggles. After enduring 670 combined games missed due to injury over the past two seasons, supporters are ready for a more positive and injury-free future.