Liverpool vs Athletic Club: Matchday Analysis and Post-Match Breakdown
First Friendly – A Resounding 4‑1 Victory
Liverpool kicked off the evening with a dominant display, routing Athletic Club 4‑1 in the first of two pre‑season friendlies at Anfield. The match served as both a celebration and a tribute, as honors were paid to the late Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva just before kick‑off.
Highlights:
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Rio Ngumoha, aged just 16, opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with a breathtaking solo run and curling finish from around 20 yards. He then turned provider, heading it on for Darwin Núñez to tap in in the 5th minute.
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Ben Doak’s angled effort resulted in an own goal by Athletic Club’s goalkeeper Álex Padilla around the 42nd minute.
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Harvey Elliott added a fourth in the 58th minute, sweeping home a move initiated by Kostas Tsimikas.
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Athletic's consolation came in the 76th minute via Gorka Guruzeta, capitalising on a defensive miscue.
Second Friendly – More Drama in a Tight 3‑2 Win
In the nightcap, Liverpool fielded a stronger XI with five new signings starting, including Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong. Athletic offered a sterner test but ultimately succumbed 3‑2.
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Mohamed Salah opened the scoring from a well‑crafted Wirtz assist.
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Athletic equalised shortly thereafter via a free‑kick flick‑on by Vivian, met by Oihan Sancet, who later had to leave the field injured.
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Liverpool regained control when Cody Gakpo pounced on a rebound to score, only for a deflected corner to level the match again. Gakpo then restored the lead with a low finish.
Player Ratings: First Friendly (4‑3‑3 Formation)
| Player | Rating (out of 10) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Ngumoha | 8 | Goal plus assist; sensational impact |
| Darwin Núñez | 7 | Clinical finish; linked play |
| Harvey Elliott | 7 | Intelligent midfield lane; finish added |
| Alexis Mac Allister | 7 | Engine of the midfield, helped regain control |
| Curtis Jones | 6 | Rock solid in central midfield |
| Ben Doak | 6 | Creative flair; almost goal |
| Tsimikas / Robertson | 6 | Defensively solid across left side |
| Luca Stephenson | 5 | Error led to Athletic’s lone goal |
Summary of Key Moments
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Emotional Tribute – Both matches paused in the 20th minute to honour the late Diogo Jota and his brother, followed by a wreath‑laying ceremony and Jota’s shirt‑number being retired.
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Young Talent Shines – Ngumoha firmly announced himself, while Doak, Nyoni, and Stephenson all impressed.
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Injury Woes for Athletic – Athletic suffered further setbacks: Sancet and Yuri withdrew injured, adding to pre‑existing absences.
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New Signings Integration – In the second game, Wirtz, Ekitike, Kerkez, Frimpong, and Mamardashvili made their first appearances, fitting into Slot’s fluid system.
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Tactical Notes – Coach Slot rotated heavily, using both matches to test depth while Valverde’s Athletic persisted despite injuries. Second match featured controversial officiating involving off‑side goals and a missed penalty by Salah.
Implications Moving Forward
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For Liverpool: Emerging youngsters like Ngumoha, Doak, and Elliott earn trust, while Wirtz provides the creative spark to offset the loss of Alexander‑Arnold. Arne Slot hinted at deeper midfield creativity now that Trent is in Madrid.
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For Athletic Club: The series exposed defensive frailties and injury concerns. Their final pre‑season test versus Arsenal awaits, but Sancet's injury raises further doubts.
Match Day Overview
| Match | Scoreline | Key Contributors | Notable Incidents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendly 1 | Liverpool 4–1 Athletic Club | Ngumoha (G + A), Núñez (1 G), Elliott (1 G), Doak (own goal creator) | Tribute to Jota, strong debut by youngsters |
| Friendly 2 | Liverpool 3–2 Athletic Club | Salah (1 G), Gakpo (2 G), Wirtz (assist) | Sancet injury, VAR‑free officiating drama |
Why This Double‑Header Matters
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Liverpool: Testing squad depth ahead of Community Shield vs Crystal Palace (Aug 10) and Premier League opener vs Bournemouth (Aug 15).
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Athletic Club: Last warm‑up before their London test vs Arsenal, dealing with player absences and defensive gaps.
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Narrative: A moving tribute to Jota; the bright emergence of unknown talents; and the contrasting fortunes of two historic clubs bridging pre-season and opening matches.
Final Thoughts
Liverpool’s friendly double-header against Athletic Club delivered on emotion and entertainment. The Reds combined tributes to fallen heroes with confidence-building wins, topped by a breakout show from teenage winger Rio Ngumoha. As Arne Slot integrates new signings like Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s pre-season has set a positive tone ahead of their title defence.
Athletic's back‑to‑back losses and injury setbacks cast a shadow over their pre‑season. Both clubs now head into their next fixtures—Liverpool to the Community Shield, Athletic Club to a showdown with Arsenal—looking to address separate concerns: one enjoying depth emerging, the other needing reinforcement and recovery.
