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Liverpool’s abusive training methods revealed

Footballers actually earn their money…

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Footballers lead a blessed existence – the money, the girls, the adulation. But for every upside there is a downside, for every yin a yang, for all the pleasure, there is pain. Especially up in Liverpool, where the players are forced to undergo a series of deeply humiliating training rituals.

Obviously taking his cue from Rocky VI – the most overtly political of the boxing films, in which Sly Stallone trained using not cool things like rowing machines and cross trainers, but instead massive logs, cold meats, and snow – Rafa Benitez has incorporated everyday household objects like boxes and strange poles into his regime. Dirk Kuyt, for one, was forced to balance on a box, as his out-of-view team mates guffawed and poked fun at him. While Steven Gerrard and Jermaine Pennant jumped up and down like looneys.

More horrific images after the jump…

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29 responses so far
  • hugh yao // July 28, 2008 at 8:25 am

    just what is your problem? what’s so looney about jumping on and off boxes in training? this utterly shite reporting, making a big deal out of nothing.

  • lfcnigt // July 28, 2008 at 8:30 am

    Thats not humiliation thats good training techniques

  • Drewas // July 28, 2008 at 8:42 am

    Seems to me that they are training properly. Rafa in training footballers to exhaustion shocker.

  • Will // July 28, 2008 at 8:59 am

    That strange pole is for putting weights on. It’s quite clear you’ve never done any physical exercise in your entire life isn’t it? Or a journalism course for that matter.

  • magnumopus // July 28, 2008 at 9:02 am

    Surely your article is for a laugh and was not meant to be serious or you are indeed a muppet for the remarks.

  • Liverpool Fc @ Anfield - Reds Supporters Gatherings - Page 433 - Singapore-Asian Commercial Sex Discussions // July 28, 2008 at 9:51 am

    [...] has picked up a groin strain and could miss the start of the season. Liverpool’s trianing: Liverpool’s abusive training methods revealed | The Spoiler <img src= [...]

  • Ella // July 28, 2008 at 10:31 am

    Oh my, aren’t we sensitive today? =)

  • unfire // July 28, 2008 at 10:40 am

    I’ve got a feeling the article wasn’t 100% serious.

  • Jay Taylor // July 28, 2008 at 10:51 am

    What a tit, i wish you people would put your names at the top of your crap articles. What next? players seen runing inbetween cones?

  • St John the Sponge // July 28, 2008 at 11:08 am

    Why do so many people suddenly get all touchy the minute anyone writes something other than purest flattery about their team? More importantly, what exactly is Dirk Kuyt preparing for, marching on the spot with a large baton? Is he going to be leading the band out?

  • JIM // July 28, 2008 at 11:39 am

    IS FERNANDO TORRES WEARING ADIDAS TRAINERS?? NIKE WONT BE HAPPY…

  • Kux // July 28, 2008 at 11:42 am

    If Rafa really intended to humiliate Kuyt he’d make him wear a nEverton shirt ;-p

  • Liverpool Fc @ Anfield - Reds Supporters Gatherings - Page 433 - Singapore-Asian Commercial Sex Discussions // July 28, 2008 at 1:18 pm

    [...] has picked up a groin strain and could miss the start of the season. Liverpool’s trianing: Liverpool’s abusive training methods revealed | The Spoiler Bro Kuyt wanna explain wat u doing? ^^ Sillypore workout? __________________ Tigerairway [...]

  • BigDaveNYC // July 28, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    The bar Kuyt is carrying looks like a 45lb bar. He is holding it, so the step-up is that much harder.

    It’s called a leg-stregthening exercise Spongy. Perhaps if you trained a bit, you could make it to St. John the not-so-flabby…

  • brendub // July 28, 2008 at 9:07 pm

    It’s called “Plyometrics” kids.

    Its all about explosive power and elasticity of the muscles.

  • LiverpoolFan // July 28, 2008 at 10:10 pm

    What a bullshit article.

    Kuyt holding a “pole”? Have you ever been to a gym?!

    By the way its Rocky Four (IV) not SIX (VI)! Why don’t you learn some basic Roman numerals instead of writing ridiculous articles like this?!

  • BillyC // July 28, 2008 at 11:41 pm

    Oh dear, a shocking article which can only have been written for one of two reasons:

    A) To attempt to wind up Liverpool fans, in which case you are resorting to the journalistic equivalent of a pre-pubescent boy pulling the pig-tails of a girl in the playground.

    B) Becuase the writer is complete idiot, in which case, why the editor(s) of ‘TheSpoiler’ give him/her permission to post this sort of tat without screening it I’ll never know. If they did screen it, they are just as culpable.

    Neither scenario leaves you covered in roses really.

  • Muz // July 28, 2008 at 11:51 pm

    Does no one understand sarcasm anymore?
    If you want serious reporting and articles then read the BBC website…you porkchops!

  • Alz // July 29, 2008 at 1:18 am

    Come on guy! It’s just for laughs. I tot de article was funny and it is good to know our boys in Red r training hard n not prima donnas. I doubt de boys at Chelshit and MUooo do dis hard training.

  • Fergus // July 29, 2008 at 1:35 am

    Agreed. The story’s just taking the piss. Chill out guys. You’re reading The Spoiler. Not Financial Football Daily.

  • Ferns // July 29, 2008 at 2:40 am

    Just regular sports-specific plyometric and strength training. I have 15 year olds doing similar things. Big part of condition training for elite athletes.

  • bobby yeah // July 29, 2008 at 3:01 am

    Is this supposed to be funny?

    Ironic?

    Huh?

  • zam // July 29, 2008 at 4:04 am

    That’s why we call fitness!!

  • Gav // July 29, 2008 at 6:25 am

    Its like doing the same old routine you get bored, with Rafas training the players wont get complacent and lazzy! Therfore commitment will be shown to Rafa and then he will decide which players to pick!

  • Bobby // July 29, 2008 at 7:13 am

    Its called plyometrics!

  • Lee // July 29, 2008 at 8:12 am

    It’s Rocky IV, not Rocky VI, you idiot…get your Roman numerals right before you get a job as a journalist.

  • Lee // July 29, 2008 at 8:13 am

    haha – Liverpool Fan, great minds think alike

  • mickeo // July 29, 2008 at 8:18 am

    Take it easy. At least the pics are good.

    By the way, do you think Roony’s having it off with Nani?

  • MrMiah // July 30, 2008 at 5:07 am

    Feel stupid for posting that article dont you..?

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