Liverpool's young stars took the headlines once again as the Reds beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in their first match back at Anfield since the end of the 2024-25 season.
Rio Ngumoha has been the standout player for Arne Slot's side this pre-season despite the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike joining in big-money deals, and he wasted no time adding to his impressive reel.
With just two minutes on the clock, the 16-year-old scored his first goal at Anfield on his home debut, dribbling with the ball from behind the halfway line before placing a fine strike into the corner from outside the box.
Ngumoha then picked up an assist just moments later when he headed Ben Doak's cross down to Darwin Nunez, who started despite links to Al-Hilal and AC Milan intensifying in recent days.
The young Scotland winger was also dangerous, and he thought he added a third with a powerful shot across the goal from a tight angle only to see it given as an own goal.
Harvey Elliott netted a fourth at the end of another slick Liverpool move before the hour mark, tapping the badge on what could be his final appearance at Anfield for the Reds.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates scoring on August 4, 2025
Given that this was the first of two matches against Bilbao on Monday, Liverpool's XI was light on first-team stars, but the young talents showed their class once again.
The Reds have been linked with a new signing on the left flank considering the departure of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, but Arne Slot is being given a headache by Ngumoha, who continues to push for a serious role in the senior setup.
As for Bilbao, manager Ernesto Valverde will be concerned that his team have now lost four games on the bounce, though they did score in all but one.
That being said, pre-season results are not necessarily representative of the season ahead, and Lehoiak will be aiming for European qualification once again in La Liga.
LIVERPOOL VS. ATHLETIC BILBAO HIGHLIGHTS
Rio Ngumoha goal vs. Athletic Bilbao (2nd min, Liverpool 1-0 Athletic Bilbao)
16 YEAR OLD RIO NGUMOHA CANNOT STOP SCORING IN LIVERPOOL'S PRESEASON ?
What a run. What a finish. pic.twitter.com/PRmGRfKOww
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 4, 2025
The 16-year-old winger picks up the ball just behind the halfway line in the centre of the pitch, carries through the Bilbao side and curls a fantastic strike into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards out on the left-hand side of the box.
Darwin Nunez goal vs. Athletic Bilbao (5th min, Liverpool 2-0 Athletic Bilbao)
The team football on display from Liverpool right now ?
Darwin Nuñez finishes off a lovely bit of play from The Reds ? pic.twitter.com/ls2QcJjGBJ
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 4, 2025
Liverpool build up the play from centre-back with the out-of-position Trey Nyoni, and the ball eventually makes its way to Harvey Elliott, who finds a clever reverse pass to Ben Doak on the right wing.
The young Scotland winger then clips a cross to the back post, where Ngumoha heads it down to Nunez, who produces a neat first-time finish into the bottom-left corner.
Alex Padilla own-goal vs. Athletic Bilbao (42nd min, Liverpool 3-0 Athletic Bilbao)
FROM THIS ANGLE BEN DOAK?! ? pic.twitter.com/n8BfiZYllc
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 4, 2025
Alexis Mac Allister and Elliott play around the Bilbao midfield, before the Argentine picks out Doak on the right flank, who beats the left-back one-versus-one and fires a shot from a tight angle that hits the back of the net.
Unfortunately for the 19-year-old talent, the goal was eventually went down as an own goal from goalkeeper Alex Padilla Perez.
Harvey Elliott goal vs. Athletic Bilbao (58th min, Liverpool 4-0 Athletic Bilbao)
Harvey Elliott of Liverpool celebrates scoring on August 4, 2025
Kostas Tsimikas drives down the left flank and plays an incisive pass to Nunez in the box, who turns and lays it off to Elliott.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder then makes no mistake from 10 yards out, stroking it into the centre of the goal and giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Gorka Guruzeta goal vs. Liverpool (76th min, Liverpool 4-1 Athletic Bilbao)
? @GorkaGuru9 ?
4-1 I #LFCAthletic #AthleticClub ? pic.twitter.com/CdVcIg2izT
— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) August 4, 2025
Johaneko Louis-Jean clips a cross towards the back post from the right-hand side of the box, but Liverpool's Luca Stephenson makes a mess of his clearing header, which falls perfectly for Gorka Guruzeta to find the back of the net with a header of his own on the six-yard line.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER
Alexis Mac Allister in action for Liverpool on August 4, 2025
Liverpool's number 10 made his first start since recovering from injury, and he showed his class by controlling the game from midfield.
The World Cup winner held together a team comprising numerous young and inexperienced players, guiding them to a strong 4-1 win.
LIVERPOOL VS. ATHLETIC BILBAO MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 68%-32% Athletic Bilbao
Shots: Liverpool 9-13 Athletic Bilbao
Shots on target: Liverpool 5-2 Athletic Bilbao
Corners: Liverpool 4-4 Athletic Bilbao
Fouls: Liverpool 7-9 Athletic Bilbao
WHAT NEXT?
Liverpool and Bilbao are set to face off again at 8pm as part of a double header, before the Reds go up against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday and Lehoiak travel to London to play Arsenal on Saturday.
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