Liverpool wrapped up their pre-season on August 4, 2025, with a statement, dominating Athletic Club in a rare double-header friendly at Anfield.
Across both matches, the Reds flexed their squad depth, offensive sharpness, and home-field dominance, securing impressive wins that sent fans into a frenzy ahead of the new campaign.
Double Dose of Action
In a unique scheduling twist, Liverpool hosted Athletic Club twice in one evening—first at 5 p.m. BST, then again at 8 p.m. BST. The goal? Maximum minutes for the full squad, and a final tune-up before competitive fixtures begin.
Liverpool’s Pre-Season Surge
Returning from a solid Asia tour—highlighted by wins over Stoke, Preston, and Yokohama F. Marinos—Liverpool entered the day with momentum. While the AC Milan loss was a blemish, the form of new signings like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitiké had fans buzzing.
Athletic Club’s Stuttering Prep
In contrast, Athletic Club came into the fixture off a shaky run. Losses to Alavés, Racing Santander, and PSV painted a worrying picture, compounded by injuries and patchy defense. With key players like Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams, and Oihan Sancet carrying the attacking load, their challenge was steep.
Matchday Predictions (Before Kick-Off)
Bookies’ Pick: Liverpool win and Over 2.5 goals
Most Backed Scoreline: 3–1 to Liverpool
BTTS? Yes – given Athletic’s counter threat and Liverpool’s high line
Top Bets:
Liverpool to win + Over 2.5 goals: ✔️
Both teams to score: ✔️ (Match 2)
Lineups & Rotations
Liverpool rotated heavily between games to test squad depth:
Match 1:
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Van Dijk, Gravenberch, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Elliott, Ngumoha; Ekitiké
Match 2:
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Endo; Doak, Wirtz, Gakpo; Núñez
Athletic Club fielded a mixed squad due to injuries, relying on their usual attacking threats but struggling to contain the hosts’ relentless press and width.
The Results Are In
Match 1
Liverpool 2–0 Athletic Club
Scorers: Salah, Ngumoha
Match 2
Liverpool 3–1 Athletic Club
Scorers: Gakpo, Doak, Elliott | I. Williams (ATH)
Takeaways
Squad Depth Confirmed: Even fringe players impressed, particularly Ngumoha and Doak.
Wirtz Looks Ready: The German midfield maestro was sharp and decisive in the final third.
Defensive Worries for Athletic: Both full-backs were exposed repeatedly, and set-piece marking was disorganized.
Match Snapshot
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Anfield, Liverpool |
| Date | August 4, 2025 |
| Total Goals Scored | 6 (5 Liverpool, 1 Athletic) |
| Best Performer | Florian Wirtz / Cody Gakpo |
| Fan Reaction | Electric—Anfield rocked all evening |
| Key Highlight | Salah’s curling opener in Match 1 |
