⚽ Liverpool vs Athletic Club: Reds Rule Anfield in Back-to-Back Preseason Wins
On August 4, 2025, football fans at Anfield witnessed a thrilling double-header as Liverpool hosted Athletic Club (Bilbao) in two preseason friendlies.
The results? Pure dominance by the Reds, who delivered back-to-back wins — 4-1 and 3-2 — setting the stage for an exciting 2025–26 season.
🔴 Match 1: Liverpool 4–1 Athletic Club – A Star Is Born
The first match kicked off in the late afternoon, and Liverpool didn’t waste a second.
🚀 Key Highlights:
- 2nd minute: 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha made headlines with a brilliant opener, showing composure and pace.
- 5th minute: Darwin Núñez made it 2-0 with a clinical finish.
- 42nd minute: A blunder from Athletic’s Álex Padilla led to an own goal.
- 58th minute: Harvey Elliott added the fourth with a curling strike from outside the box.
- 76th minute: Gorka Guruzeta pulled one back for the visitors, but it was too little, too late.
This match wasn’t just about the scoreline — it was a glimpse into Liverpool’s bright future. Youngsters like Ngumoha proved they’re ready to step up.
🔴 Match 2: Liverpool 3–2 Athletic Club – Salah Shines, Gakpo Delivers
Later in the evening, Liverpool rotated the squad for the second fixture. It was a more balanced contest but still swung in the Reds' favor.
⚡ Match Moments:
- Mo Salah opened the scoring with a sharp finish.
- Oihan Sancet equalized, giving hope to the Basque side.
- Cody Gakpo turned the game around with a goal and pressured a second that was later ruled an own goal by Athletic.
- A late penalty miss by Salah kept things tense until the final whistle.
Injuries to Sancet and defender Yuri Berchiche cast a shadow over Athletic’s night, while Liverpool’s attacking depth proved too much.
📊 Overall Impact and Takeaways
| Match | Result | Liverpool Goal Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool 4–1 | Ngumoha, Núñez, OG (Padilla), Elliott |
| 2 | Liverpool 3–2 | Salah, Gakpo, OG (Athletic) |
Total Goals Scored: Liverpool – 7 | Athletic Club – 3
🙌 Emotional Moments at Anfield
The friendlies also paid tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, with fans holding up tribute cards in the 20th minute of each match. These gestures reminded everyone that football is more than a game — it’s about people, unity, and shared moments.
🏟️ Anfield Briefly Evacuated — But All Clear
Interestingly, an hour before the first match, Anfield had to be evacuated due to a false alarm. Thankfully, the situation was quickly resolved, and fans re-entered without delay.
🧠 What We Learned
- Rio Ngumoha is a name to watch – His confidence and talent were on full display.
- Liverpool’s squad depth is impressive – From young guns to senior stars, the Reds look ready.
- Athletic Club needs to regroup – Injuries and defensive lapses hurt them, but it’s still preseason.
📅 What’s Next for Liverpool?
Jürgen Klopp’s side will now focus on their upcoming Premier League opener, and with this kind of momentum, confidence is sky-high. Meanwhile, Athletic Club returns to Spain with lessons learned — and time to heal before La Liga kicks off.
- Liverpool vs Athletic Club
- Liverpool preseason 2025
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- Rio Ngumoha goal
- Liverpool match highlights
- Athletic Club injuries
- Liverpool young talents
- Liverpool vs Athletic Club recap