Liverpool spotted testing new tactic in pre-season training and it will terrify Premier League rivals

Premier League champions don't retain the title by standing still and Liverpool have shown how serious they are about defending the crown.

The Reds have been as ambitious in the transfer market as they've ever been, adding striker Hugo Ekitike to their ranks along with fellow new signings Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz.

Manager Arne Slot is plotting a multitude of ways to deploy his new-look line-up and a serious pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak could yet provide him with another weapon.

But not all of his ideas are a matter of team shape or finding the best way to maximise the impact of Wirtz by freeing up the left wing for rampaging full-back Kerkez to tear up and down like he did at Bournemouth.

Liverpool are in Tokyo preparing for the new season at a Japanese FA facility and will take on struggling J1 League giants Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Reds midfielder Wataru Endo, who was born in western Yokohama and was spotted working on a new attacking tactic that could make the most of Liverpool's imposing physical attributes.

Merseyside football reporter Lewis Steele is in Japan with the team and revealed that Endo has been launching some long throw-in missiles into the penalty area at the JFA's YUME field training ground.

Steele captured footage of Endo channelling Dave Challinor, Andy Legg and Rory Delap by hoiking the ball into the box, perhaps an indication that Slot is keen to capitalise on the renewed importance of inventive and high-yield set pieces.

Wataru Endo (Image: Getty)

Title rivals Arsenal profited from meticulously planned corner kicks last season and Liverpool have never been shy about mastering the details.

In 2020, former manager Jurgen Klopp appointed Thomas Gronnemark – a long throw specialist in his own right – as the team's first throw-in coach.

Under Slot, the Reds have plenty for Endo to pick out in dangerous spots.

Defensive duo Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are aerial threats in the opposition box and the height of Ekitike adds to the likes of Cody Gakpo and potentially Isak or Darwin Nunez.

The Reds were in the middle of the rankings for set-piece goals last season and extra goals from throw-ins, corners and free kicks would be a great way to mount a title defence.