Bogdan jokes: ‘It was a great experience for Gerrard to train with me’

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Adam Bogdan is a likeable backup stopper, and the flame haired Hungarian is expected to start Wednesday evening’s League Cup tie with Southampton.

And with the St. Mary’s fixture in mind, the Echo spoke in length to the former Bolton no.1, who came across very well.

He discussed training with Steven Gerrard, who’s been allowed by Jurgen Klopp to get fit at Melwood, the new manager and the Liverpool goalkeeper coach.

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Training with Gerrard:

“It was a great experience [training with Gerrard]. He’s a legend, one of the best players this club has ever had. It made my day,” Bogdan began.

“When you train, it’s supposed to be normal. But for me, this was not normal! It was one of those moments where you have to pinch yourself.

“He’s someone I’ve watched for many years. So you have all these memories stored, and then suddenly he’s there and you’re training alongside him. It’s huge.

“It was a fantastic experience for me…and I’m sure it was a fantastic experience for him to train with me also, hey?! We’ll ask him, shall we?”

Jurgen Klopp:

“I have to be honest, I haven’t spoken to him one-on-one.

“But his father was a goalkeeper, so he has an idea about the position. He doesn’t shout, he’s not a goalkeeper-hater like some managers!

“He’s a good person, how he comes across in the media is the same as how he is in real life.

“He has a very simple and very clear way that he wants to play, and he gets that message across. He gets everybody pulling in the same direction, and I think you can see that on the pitch.

John Achterberg:

“Well firstly, without his recommendation I wouldn’t be at Liverpool I don’t think,” he says.

“We started to work together in July, and it wasn’t easy for me at first. The standards here are so high, and I had to get used to that. I found it really hard at first.

“John trains as if you are playing a match, he shoots at you and works you the way the first team players or the opposition would, so that you are used to those situations.

“At Liverpool, goalkeeper training is about moving your feet, standing up, cutting off angles. Because if you gamble and try to go early at this level, players are good enough to make you look silly.

“I was really glad that he stayed at the club when the changes were made. I know what he expects, I know what I have to do to keep improving, and I feel that he will help me to do that. He’s an important figure for me and I enjoy working with him.”

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It seems odd to us that Klopp’s yet to speak individually with Bogdan, but we’re sure the German will have a word with him ahead of the League Cup quarterfinal, as he’s renowned for his man-management skills.

Bogdan’s so far proved a more than capable backup to Simon Mignolet, who is worrying many Reds with his recent performances.

If Bogdan impresses again on Wednesday, there will be an increasing number of supporters calling for him to get a chance in the Premier League starting XI. Either way, it’s just good we acquired a serious improvement on Brad Jones without paying a transfer fee for the privilege.

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