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Liverpool vs. Athletic Club score, result, highlights: Reds win pair of preseason friendlies at Anfield

Liverpool had a double dose of preparation for the 2025/26 season, putting on two exquisite shows for Reds fans at Anfield as they beat Athletic Club 4-1 and 3-2 in a friendly double-header on Monday.

The first match featured many second-choice players for both sides, and Liverpool dominated that matchup of backups and young stars. Youth products Rio Ngumoha and Ben Doak were the stars, while wantaway duo Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott both found the net and lone first-choice participant Alexis Mac Allister was also bright.

Shortly after, the teams deployed most of their starters for the second friendly, from which Liverpool emerged victorious again. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the first half, which ended level despite home dominance throughout the 45 minutes.

After the break, Cody Gakpo scored a controversial goal to pull back in front, although it was no less than Liverpool deserved. After conceding a second set-piece equaliser to Maroan Sannadi, Gakpo responded again to put Liverpool in front on a Unai Simon mistake.

Finally, Liverpool held onto a lead, with Giorgi Mamardashvili making an exceptional save as time expired to maintain the lead.

With the preseason concluded, Liverpool begin their competitive season in six days as they meet Crystal Palace in the FA Community Shield on Sunday at Wembley.

JUMP TO: Goals, highlights from first friendly | Goals, highlights for second friendly | How to watch

Liverpool vs. Athletic Club final score

  Score Goal scorers
Liverpool 3 Salah (14′),
Gakpo (55′, 70′)
Athletic Club 2 Sancet (29′),
Sannadi (64′)

Starting lineups:

Liverpool (4-2-3-1, right to left): 25. Mamardashvili (GK) — 30. Frimpong (Nallo, 72′), 3. Endo, 5. Konate, 6. Kerkez — 8. Szoboszlai, 38. Gravenberch — 11. Salah, 7. Wirtz (Wright, 76′), 18. Gakpo — 22. Ekitike (Chiesa, 57′).

Athletic Club (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Simon (GK) — 37. Areso, 3. Vivian, 32. Boiro, 17. Berchiche (Dunabeitia, 77′) — 16. de Galarreta, 18. Jauregizar — 9. I. Williams (Ares, 83′), 8. Sancet (Canales, 43′), 10. N.Williams — 21. Sannadi.

Liverpool vs. Athletic Club goals, highlights from second friendly

FULLTIME: Liverpool 3-2 Athletic Club

A sensational save by Giorgi Mamardashvili at the buzzer seals the win for Liverpool! The Reds were excellent throughout the day, but the first team lapsed at times along the back and will want to shore things up defensively before the start of the season.

Still, it’s a massively success day on the whole, as both youngsters and superstars got in on the act for Liverpool. Athletic Club, meanwhile, were a disaster at the back all day long and may have seen a key player go down to injury as well.

80th min: Penalty, Liverpool! Wataru Endo, who has moved into midfield after the changes, is brought down in the penalty area to give Liverpool a penalty!

Mohamed Salah steps up, and…MISSES! He skies it over the crossbar! It’s an ugly take, not particularly close, but hey, this is preseason, so the chance to take a penalty in a match environment is valuable regardless.

73rd min: There’s a long stoppage in play as Yuri Berchiche seems to really have seriously injured his ankle in a fluky coming-together with Mo Salah. As he limps off, Amara Nallo replaces Jeremie Frimpong and Will Wright takes over for Florian Wirtz.

70th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL! Cody Gakpo has his second goal of the day, although this one comes thanks to a howler from Unai Simon!

A clunky Liverpool attack sees Gakpo latch onto the ball on the left edge of the six-yard box, and after a fortunate bounce frees him of Jesus Areso’s challenge, he rifles a shot on net. The ball takes a deflection which weakens its power considerably, but it also may have affected Simon’s tracking of the shot, and he sees it go through despite getting a touch!

64th min: GOAL! ATHLETIC CLUB! An ASTONISHING header from Maroan Sannadi brings Athletic Club level for the second time today from a set-piece play! This time a corner proves Liverpool’s undoing, as Sannadi manages to squeeze between no fewer than four Liverpool players to meet the delivery and head past Mamardashvili!

It’s a fantastic header from Sannadi, who charges to meet the ball at the near post and flick it past the goalkeeper and inside the far post!

55th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL! Liverpool do what they did to Barcelona years ago by taking a short corner before the opponent was ready, and it pays off! They work it around to the top of the penalty area where Ryan Gravenberch steps around a rushing defender and fires the ball on frame. Unai Simon gets down to parry the shot but it falls into the path of Cody Gakpo who finishes into the net from close range!

There’s some controversy on the play as Gakpo looked pretty clearly offside, but there’s no VAR in place for preseason friendlies so the goal stands as given!

2nd half kickoff: Liverpool have dominated the match so far, but the scoreline remains level as the final 45 minutes of a long day get going. Both sides are unchanged as we begin the final 45 minutes, with the Reds thin on the bench to spell the first team players down the stretch of this match.

HALFTIME: Liverpool 1-1 Athletic Club

Like in the first game, Liverpool were the far better side through the opening 45 minutes, peppering the Athletic Club goal thanks to a combination of brilliant team combination, individual excellence, and woeful opposition defending. Yet unlike the opening match, the Reds were unable to head into the dressing room with a scoreline lead.

Mohamed Salah was the only Liverpool player who managed to finish his chance successfully, as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, and even Ibrahima Konate all came close but failed to find the net in the end.

All of Liverpool’s new signings have been strong performers, topped by the brilliant Wirtz who has been fabulous throughout the 45 minutes. Ekitike was vital on Salah’s goal, and Jeremie Frimpong has also stood out. Athletic Club have their goal through Oihan Sancet, but the Spaniard was forced off just before the break with an injury which will worry the club as the new season approaches.

29th min: GOAL! ATHLETIC CLUB! Oihan Sancet has brought the game back level! It comes on a set-piece for Athletic Club, with the ball sent in from deep by Jesus Areso. It’s floated exquisitely to the far post where an attacker gets a touch to the ball and nods it back to the penalty spot.

Every Liverpool defender was caught ball-watching, as they had all followed the flight of the delivery and failed to track two or three Athletic forwards who had slammed on their brakes around the top of the six-yard box. With them all now unmarked, Sancet latched onto the ball and finished with confidence!

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21st min: As they did in the first friendly, there’s a minute’s applause around Anfield to remember Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. The moment is delayed slightly as there was no stoppage in the 20th minute, but the referee allows the ground to have its moment at the first opportunity.

14th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL! After Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo missed glorious chances minutes earlier, Mohamed Salah finds the back of the net to open the scoring!

Hugo Ekitike is the creative source of the goal, driving to the byline before cutting it back to the top of the penalty area. The delivery crosses up Adama Boiro so bad the ball goes right through his legs and straight to the feet of Salah, and he drives home the emphatic finish!

Kickoff: “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is complete and the match is under way! Premier League official Darren England is the referee for this second friendly.

1 hour to kickoff: With the first friendly complete, the second game is on its way, with shortly over an hour before kickoff. The first-choice players for both sides are set to take the field here, with many of Liverpool’s starters hoping to complete the full 90 minutes as the Reds only have six players named to the bench for this second friendly.

One player who misses out is Virgil van Dijk, whom Liverpool confirmed misses out due to illness, which forces midfielder Wataru Endo into the back line. Conor Bradley is also missing, with a “minor injury” the reason given.

Liverpool vs. Athletic Club final score from first friendly

  Score (2H) Goal scorers
Liverpool 4 Ngumoha (2′),
Nunez (5′),
Doak (42′),
Elliott (58′)
Athletic Club 1 Guruzeta (76′)

Starting lineups:

Liverpool (4-3-3, right to left): 28. Woodman (GK — Pesci, 46′) —91. Stephenson, 26. Robertson, 42. Nyoni (Pilling, 67′), 21. Tsimikas  — 10. Mac Allister (Lucky, 56′), 19. Elliott, 17. Jones (Laffey, 84′) — 50. Doak (Danns, 56′), 9. Nunez (Koumas, 80′), 73. Ngumoha (Kone-Doherty, 67′).

Athletic Club (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13. Padilla (GK) — 2. Gorosabel (Louisjean, 73′), 6. Vesga, 4. De Luis, 15. Lekue — 24. Prados (Navarro, 13′), 30. Rego (Rencedor, 73′) — 7. Berenguer (Canales, 85′), 20. U. Gomez, 33. Serrano (Ares, 73′) — 12. Guruzeta (Izeta, 85′).

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Liverpool vs. Athletic Club goals, highlights from first friendly

FULLTIME: Liverpool 4-1 Athletic Club

An excellent showing by the Liverpool players who took part in the first friendly of the day, largely a second-choice group who carved Athletic Club to pieces.

Rio Ngumoha and Ben Doak starred in the first half, and while the second half was a bit quieter, they still largely out-performed their Spanish opponents. Alexis Mac Allister, the lone first-choice player in the lineup today, was also a standout.

76th min: GOAL! ATHLETIC CLUB! A sloppy defensive moment for Liverpool sees Gorka Guruzeta pick up Athletic’s first goal! Luca Stephenson tries to clear the ball, but having to contort his body awkwardly to get contact on the ball, he instead heads it right to Guruzeta who finishes from about six yards out!

58th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL! Harvey Elliott is the latest Liverpool player to find the back of the net as Athletic Club are once again carved to pieces! A great vertical ball from Kostas Tsimikas up towards Darwin Nunez unlocks the back line, and with his back to goal he squares it for Elliott who’s somehow completely unmarked 10 yards from goal, producing a great finish!

It was Elliott’s defender who stepped up to challenge Nunez, who himself had snuck by his mark, and nobody filled the vacancy behind! Athletic Club have been absolutely shambolic at the back in this first of two games.

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56th min: Here come the first of likely many substitutions. Alexis Mac Allister is the first off for Liverpool, as Ben Doak is also withdrawn. On to replace them are Jayden Danns and Wellity Lucky.

A bit later, Rio Ngumoha exits to an Anfield ovation, replaced by Kone-Doherty. Alongside him Toni Nyoni goes off, maybe struggling with a bit of a muscle issue, replaced by Tommy Pilling.

2nd half kickoff: The players are back out for the second half. There are no changes for Athletic Club, whose only substitution so far remains the early injury replacement for Benat Prados, with Robert Navarro coming on to replace him. There is one for Liverpool, as Armin Pesci comes on to replace Freddie Woodman in goal.

Expect a flurry of alterations after the hour mark, but as players ramp up to 90-minute fitness, they are now tasked with performing past a 45-minute level.

HALFTIME: Liverpool 3-0 Athletic Club

The Reds completely dominated the first 45 minutes of this opening friendly, with Rio Ngumoha and Ben Doak the headline standouts. Darwin Nunez scored his fifth goal of the preseason, which is notable as he looks to secure a move away or push his way into a crowded Liverpool attacking lineup.

Athletic had a few chances, hitting the crossbar early in the half and having a few other big attacking moves cut down at the last moment. At the back, however, they were woeful, allowing the Liverpool wingers to dribble at will, almost fearful of challenging them on the ball.

42nd min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL! Ben Doak has a third for the Reds, who have dominated this first half! He takes it himself from outside the penalty area, driving vertically down the right edge of the six-yard box and scoring from an incredibly tight angle, sneaking the ball in off the palm of the goalkeeper who should have done better!

35th min: Chance, Athletic! An absolutely FANTASTIC defensive intervention by Trey Nyoni at the back post to prevent an Athletic Club goal! A second consecutive Athletic corner is swung into the mixer, where it’s headed on a platter at the far post for a crashing forward. But there is Nyoni, who got to the ball before the attacker or the goalkeeper, and swipes it away with his foot! WHAT a play!

20th min: The match is momentarily paused for a minute’s applause in honor of former Liverpool striker Diogo Jota, who wore No. 20 and passed away this summer in a car wreck. A wonderful tribute at Anfield for a beloved player and person.

5th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL! It’s all too easy for Darwin Nunez who taps the ball into the net from right on the line, and Liverpool are 2-0 up in a flash! It comes on the back of a great move, with a cross by Ben Doak to the head of Rio Ngumoha who places it right at Nunez’s feet for the near-post touch!

2nd min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL! It’s a wonderful solo goal to start things off, with a wonderful run and finish from young winger Rio Ngumoha! The 16-year-old meanders through midfield, advancing the ball into the attacking third, and with nobody from Athletic Club stepping forward to challenge, he goes for goal himself from about 18 yards out and tucks it inside the post!

Kickoff: The first match is under way as these two clubs look to advance closer to the start of their seasons!

1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are in, and both sides have largely gone with a second-choice setup for the first match, likely leaving the first-choice players for the second game.

Starting for Liverpool up front is Darwin Nunez, who is the subject of significant transfer speculation. It’s unlikely that Arne Slot risks him for too long ahead of what could be a big-money move for the Uruguayan, which Liverpool will not want to see scuppered by a potential injury.

Liverpool vs. Athletic Club lineups, team news

Hugo Ekitike made an underwhelming Liverpool debut against Yokohama F. Marinos and will be keen to impress, especially with the club’s ambitions to sign Alexander Isak having hit an impasse.

Alisson left the Asian tour early due to personal reasons and might not return from Brazil in time to feature.

Alexis Mac Allister came through his return from injury unscathed last time out and should feature again. Federico Chiesa is back following his latest muscular injury, but it remains to be seen how much action the Italy winger, Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott or Tyler Morton are granted with their futures up in the air.

Joe Gomez remains sidelined, leaving Slot light at centre-back, especially with Virgil van Dijk a surprise absence due to illness and Conor Bradley missing due to a “minor injury.”

Liverpool 1st starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Woodman (GK) —Stephenson, Robertson, Nyoni, Tsimikas  — Mac Allister, Elliott, Jones — Doak, Nunez, Ngumoha.

Liverpool 2nd starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Mamardashvili (GK) — Frimpong, Endo, Konate, Kerkez — Szoboszlai, Gravenberch — Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo — Ekitike.

Athletic suffered a pair of defensive injuries against Racing Santander last time out and Valverde must run the rule over Aitor Paredes and Unai Egiluz.

Part of the reason that Bayern Munich swooped to buy Luis Diaz from Liverpool was Athletic’s success in keeping hold of their star winger Nico Williams, who is poised to feature on Merseyside.

Athletic Club 1st starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Padilla (GK) — Gorosabel, Vesga, De Luis, Lekue — Prados, Rego — Berenguer, U. Gomez, Serrano — Guruzeta.

Athletic Club 2nd starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Simon (GK) — Areso, Vivian, Boiro, Berchiche — de Galarreta, Jauregizar — I. Williams, Sancet, N.Williams — Sannadi.

Liverpool vs. Athletic Club live stream, TV channel

Here’s how to watch these friendly matches across selected areas of the world’s major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA — DAZN, CBS Sports Golazo
Canada — DAZN
UK LFCTV LFCTV
Australia — beIN Sport Connect
India — —

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