Liverpool comfortably beat Athletic Club 4-1 in the first of their two pre-season friendlies as they gear up for the Premier League's return. Rio Ngumoha put in another inspired performance, scoring and assisting in the match.
The Reds made a lightning quick start to the game, with Ngumoha building off his fine game against Yokohama FM by scoring another fine strike. The 16-year-old drove at goal through the middle of the pitch and produced a fine curling effort which beat Alex Padilla from range.
Just three minutes later, the Reds had doubled their lead. Some neat interplay resulted in a cross from Ben Doak, who floated the ball to Ngumoha at the back post. The youngster turned from scorer to provider, setting up Darwin Nunez to steer the ball home from close range.
Athletic grew into the game with a handful of chances, the best of which fell to Andoni Gorosabel, but the full-back could only blaze the ball onto the woodwork from close range. Their hosts then landed a sucker punch after Doak drove into the box and fired a ball across the box, which Padilla knocked into his own net.
The visitors looked better after the interval and should have pulled a goal back when Gorka Guruzeta was played through on goal. But substitute goalkeeper Armin Pecsi made a great save to deny the striker.
Athletic were once again made to regret their wastefulness. Some neat passing eventually reached Nunez in the box, with the Uruguayan laying off the ball to Harvey Elliott, who finished from close range just before the hour mark.
Multiple changes for both teams did slow the pace of the game down, but the Spanish side did eventually get one back. After winning the ball in midfield, a cross into the box was not dealt with by young defender Luca Stephenson. Guruzeta capitalised on a poor header to get a consolation goal.
A second match between the two clubs is set to kick off at 20:00 GMT, as both sides give their players valuable minutes ahead of the 2025/26 season. Slot and his squad, however, will have one eye on Sunday's Community Shield match against Crystal Palace.
Liverpool vs Athletic Bilbao Statistics
Liverpool
68%
9
5
7
0
Match Highlights
Full match highlights to follow...
Liverpool Ratings
Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha
GK - Freddie Woodman - 6/10
Signed from Preston in the summer, it was a solid Anfield debut for Freddie Woodman. The 28-year-old wasn't really tested in the first half, and was brought off at the interval.
RB - Luca Stephenson - 6/10
Stepped in for Conor Bradley and didn't give Berenguer much space in the first half. Mostly solid, but did make an error in the second half for Athletic's only goal.
CB - Trey Nyoni - 6/10
Solid enough, making a good sliding tackle to intercept a low cross into the penalty area from Berenguer after a counter-attack. Lost Guruzeta at the start of the second for a big chance, but Slot will be content with the youngster's performance.
CB - Andy Robertson (C) - 7/10
Got a toe on the ball to nick it away from Guruzeta to prevent a goal and guided his young centre-back partners through the tie well. Potentially facing more of a squad role this season following the arrival of Milos Kerkez, so a solid performance here was exactly what he needed.
LB - Kostas Tsimikas - 7/10
Solid enough, looking decent in defence while supporting his teammates in attack, as he did for the fourth goal of the match. Premier League and Spanish clubs are reportedly interested, so he could make a shrewd signing for one of them.
CM - Harvey Elliott - 7/10
Played a decent pass in the build-up to the second goal and was tidy enough in possession. Then scored the fourth goal after some good interplay.
CM - Alexis Mac Allister - 7/10
Won the ball back for Ngumoha's goal and set him on his way. Neat and accurate with his passing, as per usual. Withdrawn just before the hour mark, no doubt with the Community Shield on Slot's mind.
CM - Curtis Jones - 6/10
A calm presence in the engine room, dropping deep to receive the ball from both centre-backs before turning and driving forward. Won several duels to turn possession over.
RW - Ben Doak - 8/10
It was his cross into Ngumoha that ultimately led to the second goal of the match. Then nearly scored from range, but was at the heart of Liverpool's third. A good performance from the youngster.
LW - Rio Ngumoha - 9/10 (Player of the Match)
Scored a wonderful goal just minutes into the tie, before setting up Nunez for Liverpool's second. Ngumoha was a live wire in the first 45, but faded in the second half before his withdrawal. Going off his pre-season performances, though, this could be a breakout year for the talented 16-year-old.
ST - Darwin Nunez - 8/10
Scored a nice goal after some good awareness from Ngumoha. Linked play well and set Elliott up for the fourth. With a potential move to Saudi Arabia drawing closer, according to reports, today may well be one of his final matches at Anfield.
SUB - Armin Pecsi (GK) - 7/10
Brought on at half-time for Woodman and made a good save to deny Guruzeta five minutes into the half. Couldn't do much for Athletic's goal.
SUB - Wellity Lucky - 6/10
Brought on for Mac Allister and slotted in alongside Robertson. Helped his partner out after a lapse of concentration from the Scotsman.
SUB - Lewis Koumas - 5/10
A decent 10-minute run-out for the forward, with his shot saved by Padilla shortly after coming on. Showed promise in the limited time he had.
SUB - Tommy Pilling - 5/10
Replaced Nyoni and had a decent, but ultimately quiet, outing.
SUB - Michael Laffey - N/A
Brought on with six minutes of normal time remaining. Didn't have enough of a chance to make an impact.
SUB - Trent Kone Doherty - 5/10
Came on for Ngumoha in the 66th minute. Did have a very late chance to grab a fifth, but his shot was smothered by Athletic's shot-stopper.
SUB - Jayden Danns - 5/10
Brought on along with Lucky for Doak. Aside from some neat touches intermittently, he didn't manage to make much of an impact.
Athletic Bilbao Ratings
Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde
GK - Alex Padilla - 3/10
Would have been disappointed to have conceded the first goal from distance, but not much he could have done about the second. Grew in confidence after with some good sweeping and distribution, but then had a howler for Liverpool's third.
RB - Andoni Gorosabel - 4/10
Had a torrid time against Ngumoha in the early stages of the game. Should have pulled a goal back in the first half, but his shot struck the woodwork and flew over.
CB - Inigo Lekue - 4/10
The Spanish centre-back never looked completely comfortable. He wasn't close enough to Nunez for the second goal and also gave the ball away frequently when in possession.
CB - Jon de Luis - 5/10
Made a good recovery tackle after a long ball sent Nunez towards goal, but could have done more on the second goal to stop Doak's cross. Looked a little more solid in the second half, but the damage was already done.
LB - Unai Gomez - 3/10
Pulled out of position for the second Liverpool goal and then failed to deal with Doak's movement for the third. Supporters will hope he can raise his levels for the start of the La Liga season.
CDM - Mikel Vesga - 5/10
Tidy with his passing, won the ball consistently and looked to get his team on their way.
RW - Nico Serrano - 5/10
Blazed a shot over in the 23rd minute after a decent ball from Berenguer. Failed to test the Liverpool defence with regularity.
CM - Benat Prados - 4/10
Forced off in the 13th minute with an injury. Didn't do too much of note prior to the substitution.
CM - Alejandro Rego Mora - 5/10
Earned a yellow card after a clumsy challenge on Curtis Jones in the first half. Some nice dribbling nearly created chances for his teammates, but an unremarkable game.
LW - Alex Berenguer - 7/10
Played a decent cross to Serrano in the first half which was not converted, but should have tested Stephenson a little more. Improved in the second half with some decent movement and passing, nearly scoring before pulling his shot wide. The best of a bad bunch.
ST - Gorka Guruzeta - 6/10
Struggled to make much of an impact in the first half, with him restricted to just a handful of opportunities by the two Liverpool centre-backs. Had a great chance to pull one back after the interval, but he was denied by Pecsi. Did eventually get his goal after an error at the back for Liverpool.
SUB - Robert Navarro - 6/10
Signed from Mallorca in the summer, Navarro was brought on early after Prados' injury. Moved the ball well in midfield and could prove to be a decent player for Ernesto Valverde this season.
SUB - Unai Vencedor - 4/10
Didn't do much wrong during his 18-minute cameo. Won the ball on a few occasions.
SUB - Urko Izeta - N/A
Came on in the 85th minute. Not enough time to make an impact.
SUB - Malcom Adu Ares - 5/10
Brought on with 15 minutes remaining and won the ball back ahead of Athletic's consolation goal. A decent cameo.
SUB - Peio Canales - N/A
Came on in the 85th minute. Didn't have enough time to make an impact on the match.
SUB - Johaneko Louis-Jean - 4/10
Introduced on the 72-minute mark. Might have scored late on were it not for the offside flag, but was well off.