Liverpool will play their final two pre-season games on Monday at Anfield against Athletic Bilbao, with the two sides set to face each other twice in one day.
The Reds beat Yokohama F. Marinos 3-1 on Wednesday, and they will hope that their friendlies against their Spanish opponents can prepare the entire squad for their Community Shield clash against Crystal Palace on August 10.
Match preview
Liverpool have endured a mixed pre-season so far, as while they managed to beat Preston North End and Yokohama, they were also defeated by AC Milan on July 26, losing 4-2 while looking defensively vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Though it is difficult to know how much to read into the results of friendlies, the fact that Arne Slot's side have not kept a clean sheet in their three matches will be concerning, especially as they ended 2024-25 having conceded nine goals in their final four games.
The Dutch boss will be delighted by his players' performances at the other end of the pitch given they have netted eight times in their three pre-season outings, with new signing Florian Wirtz scoring against Yokohama.
Wirtz will undoubtedly boost the club's ability to create chances in the final third, a tantalising prospect given they ended the 2024-25 Premier League campaign as the division's top scorers (86).
Liverpool have won two and lost one of their pre-season friendlies, and they were beaten twice and held to two stalemates in their final four competitive games last season, but they had claimed the league title with four matches to spare.
The Reds were the best side at home in the top flight last term, winning 14 of their 19 fixtures at Anfield while losing just once, and they experienced just one defeat at the stadium in their five home European outings that season.
Liverpool's Florian Wirtz shoots on July 30, 2025
As for Bilbao, they were beaten 2-1 by Racing Santander in their most recent friendly on July 30, and that was their third consecutive loss in pre-season.
Ernesto Valverde's side finished fourth in La Liga in 2024-25 with 70 points - one place higher and two points more than they managed in 2023-24 - and they qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14.
The visitors managed to score 54 goals in the Spanish top flight, and though that was only the seventh best record, their return of 29 goals conceded was the best in the division.
However, Lehoiak have picked the ball out of the back of their net five times in their four pre-season games, scoring on three occasions.
Athletic Bilbao's history against Liverpool is limited, with their most recent encounter a 1-1 draw in a friendly in August 2021, and they drew one and lost two of their other three clashes against the English side.
Valverde's team triumphed in their final two away fixtures of 2024-25, but they beaten in five and held to draws in five of their prior 10 outings on the road.
Liverpool Club Friendlies 1 form:
Athletic Bilbao Club Friendlies 1 form:
Team News
Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams in action on December 8, 2024
With the Community Shield on the horizon, Slot can be expected to name a strong starting lineup in the first of his side's two clashes on Monday in order to build fitness and rhythm, with striker Hugo Ekitike and attacking midifelder Wirtz certain to feature for Liverpool.
Alexis Mac Allister has been dealing with injury issues in pre-season, but after playing in the second half against Milan, the Argentine is in line to make an appearance.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker left the Liverpool squad during their tour of Asia due to personal reasons and is unlikely to make an appearance, though Giorgi Mamardashvili is more than capable of deputising.
As for the Spanish visitors, shot-stopper Unai Simon may be protected by central defenders Daniel Vivian and Inigo Lekue.
Midfielder Mikel Vesga scored last time out, though he will be expected to primarily shield his side's back four against Liverpool alongside Mikel Jauregizar.
Star forward Nico Williams is a probable candidate on the left of attack, while his brother Inaki Williams could play on the opposite flank.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Ares, Lekue, Vivian, Boiro; Jauregizar, Vesga; I Williams, Gomez, N Williams; Guruzeta
SM words green background
We say: Liverpool 3-1 Athletic Bilbao
Slot will hope that Liverpool are able to defend better on Sunday having had more training time under their belts in pre-season.
It would not be surprising if the Reds tired towards the end of the game, so perhaps Athletic Bilbao will still manage to find their way onto the scoresheet.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
ID:578511:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8823:
No Data Analysis info
Previews by email
Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!