Liverpool vs. Athletic Club Preseason Friendly – Preview, Predictions & Lineup
Liverpool conclude their 2025 preseason with a double-header against Athletic Club at Anfield on Monday, August 4, offering two distinct 90-minute fixtures to fine-tune readiness before the Premier League opener.
Build-Up & Preseason Form
The Reds arrived at Anfield after a varied preseason run. They registered wins against Preston North End and Stoke before flying to Asia – suffering a 2‑4 defeat to AC Milan but bouncing back impressively with a 3‑1 comeback win over Yokohama F. Marinos
Athletic Club’s lead-up has been rocky: despite avoiding relegation last season, they’ve lost three of their last four preseason matches, falling to Racing Santander, PSV, and Alavés. Their only victory came against Ponferrad
Match Schedule & Kick-Off Times
Liverpool host two separate friendlies at Anfield:
- First match: 5:00 pm BST
- Second match: 8:00 pm BSTuble-header aims to simulate fixture congestion and offer extended opportunities across the squad
Liverpool: Squad News & Manager Strategy
Manager Arne Slot is expected to rotate heavily between the two games. High-profile absentees weighed on selection: Alisson remains unavailable due to personal matters, Joe Gomez is out with an Achilles injury, and Federico Chiesa remains under assessment after muscular issues. Meanwhile, Tyler Morton is reportedly close to moving to Lyon.
Summer signings Hugo Ekitiké, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Giorgi Mamardashvili are set to feature across both matches, as Slot integrates them into his evolving tactical setupThreats
Under Ernesto Valverde, Athletic enters with several squad limitations. Senior centre backs Aitor Paredes and Unai Egiluz miss time due to injury, and Yeray Álvarez is provisionally suspended following a doping test. Their depleted defense may face pressure at Anfield
On the flip side, attacking threats remain potent. The dynamic duo of Nico and Iñaki Williams, alongside creative influence from Oihan Sancet, will test Liverpool’s new-look backlines .
Predicted Lineups
First Fixture (5:00 pm – rota.
Athletic Club (4‑2‑3‑1):
Simón; Gorosabel, De Marcos, De Luis, Boiro; Vesga, Jauregizar; Ares, Sancet, N. Williams; Guruzeta
Summaries & Highlights
First Match: Liverpool 4–1 Athletic Club
Scorers: Rio Ngumoha (2′), Darwin Núñez (5′), an own goal by Padilla42′), and Harvey Elliott (58′). Athletic’s consolation came from Gorka Guruzeta in the 76th minute.
The home crowd paused to honour the memory of Diogo Jota in the 20th minute.
This youthful Liverpool side combined pace and energy with tactical fluidity
Second Match: Liverpool 3–2 Athletic Club
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring before Oihan Sancet equalised for Athletic. Cody Gakpo struck twice (55′, 70′), although one came via an own goal from Bilbao before Gakpo’s second. Another score from Athletic made it 3–2 by full time
Tactical Insights
- Liverpool: Slot’s use of two formations allowed him to test both youth and experience. The attack-minded first XI focused on pressing and quick transitions, while the second XI combined stronger midfield control and front-line creativity through Wirtz, Gakpo, and Salah.
aFlorian Wirtz remains a tactical puzzle: his role vacillated between false nine and playmaker, and integrating him without disrupting balance may challenge Slot as the season Athletic Club: Lacking defensive depth, they leaned heavily on the Williams brothers and Sancet to provide attacking impetus. Their discipline in midfield looked solid but lacked consistency without their full defensive arsenl
Predictions vs. Reality
Pre-match predictions leaned toward Liverpool notching a clean double win—first model forecasts included 2–0 and 3–1 scorelines. Though Athletic scored twice in reality, Liverpool delivered securely, with final totals of 4–1 and 3–2 matching expectations around attacking abundance and plenty of goals
Both teams have shown susceptibility at the back throughout preseason; combined with Liverpool’s potent attack, the players managed consistent goal output across both fixtures.
Conclusion: What This Means Going Forward
Liverpool close preseason strongly. Integration of new signings like Wirtz, Ekitiké, Kerkez, and Frimpong is well underway. The squad looks fit and tuned up for the upcoming Community Shield and opening rounds of the Premier League. Evaluators praised the team’s sharpness, especially noting Wirtz‑Salah chemistry emerging and teenage talent Rio Ngumoha turning heads with impactful performances early on
Athletic Club depart with positives too: their attacking trio remains energized and capable of creating moments even against a higher‑quality opponent. Yet defensive injuries and suspensions remain a concern as La Liga looms.