Harry Wilson says Leeds' pre-season under Daniel Farke has felt a lot like his Liverpool days with Jurgen Klopp. The Wales international pointed to double sessions, a 1km run in the first week and a heavy amount of running as the main reason the comparison stuck, after Leeds beat Liverpool 4-2 in Chicago on Sunday.

The Klopp comparison Wilson keeps making

Speaking to BBC Sport, Harry Wilson did not dress it up. "Yes, it's been really tough. I think from my younger days when I was at Liverpool with Jurgen - I don't know if it's a German thing - but there's a lot of running involved and it's been definitely more than what I've done the last few years for sure," he said.

He added: "We did a 1km run in the first week and that was something Jurgen used to do as well. So, maybe it is a German thing. But I remember under Jurgen I felt really fit and I'm hoping that will be the case here too."

The detail that stands out is not just the comparison, but the training load. Wilson said Leeds have been doing double sessions, with one pitch session focused on distance running and a second session in the gym. That is the kind of pre-season work that leaves a mark quickly, and Wilson clearly sees the same kind of physical edge he remembered at Liverpool.

What Wilson's move to Leeds says

Wilson's move also fits the mood around the club. He said the ownership group, the stadium work and the investment in the squad all pointed in the same direction, and that Leeds were the project he wanted to join.

Leeds' live form is mixed, with a WDLWL run in their last five league results, but the ambition around the club is obvious enough. Liverpool finished 5th in the 2025 Premier League table, which gives Wilson a familiar reference point for the level he is comparing Leeds against. The training sounds severe, but Wilson's point is more basic than that: Leeds have started pre-season with a demand for running, repetition and no easy days.

The real takeaway is the tone set by Farke in the first week. Wilson has already linked it to Klopp's Liverpool twice, and the 1km run is the clearest example he gave. Leeds are not Liverpool, and Wilson did not suggest they are. He did say the work feels familiar, and that is usually a strong sign that a training ground has set its standard early.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →