Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during a pre-season training session at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

If familiarity bred contentment for Liverpool last season, this time around they will hope to be further invigorated by the shock of the new.

The group of summer signings to have journeyed to the Far East was joined on Thursday by Hugo Ekitike after the France under-21 international's £69million move from Eintracht Frankfurt was completed.

The fresh faces may not end there, with the Reds targeting Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak in a potential British record transfer while a new centre-back is still a distinct possibility.

For each player, it is a step up in their career and, as well as integrating into a new squad, the challenge also is to adapt to the demands of playing for one of the world's leading clubs.

READ MORE:Newcastle now left with only one choice as Alexander Isak makes Liverpool transfer intention clearREAD MORE:Liverpool change in transfer plan explained as verdict shared on £300m arrivals

Having arrived from Hull City in 2017 and taken several months before making a concerted breakthrough into the first team, Andy Robertson knows all too well about the obstacles that will be faced.

And now as one of the players in the squad's leadership group, Robertson acknowledges the role the more experienced members have during the time in Hong Kong and later Japan.

“The lads already have settled in really well," he said.

"Obviously Hugo has just come in, but Jeremie (Frimpong), Milos (Kerkez), Gio (Mamardashvili), Flo (WIrtz) have all really settled in quite quickly and it’s as if they’ve been here for months now, which is pleasing.

Article continues below

“It’s just up to them to then understand the standards of playing with Liverpool, and I think they’re getting to grips with that already.

“When you look at the four older players or the leaders, with me, Ali (Becker), Virg (Van Dijk) and Mo (Salah), then we take that upon ourselves to try to let them settle in as easy as possible, try to integrate them into the squad as quickly as possible,.

“You know how important that is, especially when they’re coming from different countries, different cultures and things like that.

It’s just about trying to get them up to speed as quickly as possible.

“We take great pride in that.

When it is new players, helping them settle in – finding houses, even just getting them settled with their family, because we know how important that is – it’s so important."

Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, Robertson added: “On the pitch, they kind of look after themselves – they’ve got so much quality and they’re so good.

That’s the pleasing thing.

"Off the field, it’s about making sure they’re not sitting alone, making sure they’re getting to know each other.

Article continues below

“These trips are so important; we’re in the hotel, we’re all away from our families, away from our kids and it’s important that we spend a lot of time getting to know each other and things like that.
For more news relating to Newcastle United, visit our sister site NUFC Latest Live.