Liverpool impressed by Chicago Fire training base used by Mbokazi and Dithejane

Liverpool are using Chicago Fire’s Endeavor Health Performance Center as their training base during their pre-season camp in the United States, giving South African players Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Puso Dithejane the unusual experience of seeing the Premier League giants work at what is now their home facility.

The state-of-the-art centre opened last year and became the base for Mbokazi and Dithejane after both South Africans joined Chicago Fire in January. Liverpool’s stay has brought one of Europe’s biggest clubs to the same facilities used by the Chicago-based pair as they continue their careers in Major League Soccer.

The Reds will remain at the training complex for a two-week period. Their time in Chicago will also include a pre-season meeting with fellow Premier League club Leeds United on Sunday, 2 August.

That fixture will be played at Soldier Field, the home stadium of Chicago Fire. Once the match has taken place, Liverpool will have completed their scheduled two-week spell at the club’s performance centre.

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has spoken positively about the facilities and the surrounding city, saying the base provides everything required by professional footballers.

“The training center is amazing. I think everything here is what a football player needs,” said Szoboszlai, according to Illinois newspaperPatch.

The Hungary international also praised the opportunities to explore Chicago away from the training ground, as well as the welcome Liverpool have received during their stay.

“The city, as much as we could go outside for a walk, maybe a coffee, is very nice. The places are nice as well. The people are very friendly. I’m happy to be here.”

Liverpool’s presence means the Endeavor Health Performance Center is temporarily being used by a club competing at the highest level of English football, despite being the regular training base for Chicago Fire and their January arrivals from South Africa.

For Mbokazi and Dithejane, the arrival of Liverpool provides a direct link between their new club environment and the global attention surrounding the Premier League side’s preparations. The two players now share their Chicago football base with a visiting Liverpool squad preparing for the new campaign.

The pre-season fixture against Leeds at Soldier Field will bring the Chicago leg of Liverpool’s preparations to a close, before the Reds move on from the facilities that Mbokazi and Dithejane now call home.