Liverpool beat Athletic Club twice in one day as Gakpo, Ngumoha star

Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo were on target as Liverpool beat Athletic Club 3-2 in the second of two preseason friendlies at Anfield on Monday.

After a number of Liverpool’s fringe players had played out a 4-1 victory over the Spanish club earlier in the afternoon, head coach Arne Slot named a completely changed side for the late kick-off.

The hosts started well, with both Gakpo and Florian Wirtz going close before new signing Hugo Ekitike teed up Salah to score the opener inside 14 minutes.

While Liverpool dominated, Athletic Club equalised in the first half through Oihan Sancet, who was there to capitalise after Slot’s side failed to deal with a free-kick into the penalty area. However, Liverpool restored their lead after the break when Gakpo was on hand to tap home after Unai Simón had parried a long-range shot from Ryan Gravenberch.

Athletic Club found themselves level again when Gakpo inadvertently diverted a corner into his own net. The Netherlands international quickly atoned for his error, scoring the winner after his powerful shot squirmed under Simon’s gloves 20 minutes from time, while Salah blazed a late penalty over the bar.

In the first game of the double-header, 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha opened the scoring with a stunning solo effort to continue his impressive preseason form. The teenager then swiftly turned provider, heading the ball down for Darwin Núñez to sweep in from close range inside five minutes.

Goals from Ben Doak and Harvey Elliott made sure of the victory for the Premier League champions before Athletic Club reduced the deficit through a header from Gorka Guruzeta in the second half.

It was the first time Liverpool had played at Anfield since the passing of striker Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, with former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson and Athletic Club president Jon Uriarte laying wreaths in front of the Kop in tribute.

Jota’s song could also be heard ringing out from the stands throughout the evening and there was a period of applause in the 20th minute of both games in acknowledgment of Jota’s shirt number, which Liverpool confirmed they would be retiring last month.

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“I think in both games we created a lot of chances, scored seven goals — four in the first, three in the second — so that’s very pleasing to see because we definitely didn’t score every chance we had,” Slot told Liverpool’s club website. “Especially in the second game in the first half, I think we could have scored a few goals more than we did. So that pleased me most, the ability to create the chances and even to score seven goals over two games is also good.”

Captain Virgil van Dijk missed out through illness while defenders Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez were absent due to injuries. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker also wasn’t involved, having left Liverpool’s preseason tour of the Far East last week due to a personal matter.

Liverpool will travel to Wembley on Sunday to take on FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the FA Community Shield before starting their Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth on Aug. 14.

Asked whether he is excited by Liverpool’s new-look attack this season, Slot said: “Yeah, but we’ve also lost two quality players with Diogo [Jota] and Luis Díaz. But we’ve added with Hugo [Ekitike] definitely a player that’s going to be a very good player for us. Rio is showing good things every time in preseason.

“The other games in preseason, I think we’ve conceded a few chances too much. Today we hardly conceded anything at all, so that pleased me as well.

“But then to concede, especially in the second game, two set-piece goals, that’s not what you want — especially if you play Crystal Palace [on Sunday] who are a team that are very strong on set-pieces. That’s then another thing to work on — we’ve worked on that already but to work on that even more in the upcoming week. But players are fit, worked really hard, played some good football, defended really strong and good — apart from the two set-pieces.