Liverpool beat Spanish facet Athletic Membership twice within the area of 5 hours on Monday night time, with Rio Ngumoha a type of to star within the Anfield friendlies.
Liverpool 4-1 Athletic Membership
Pre-season Pleasant (5) | Anfield
August 4, 2025
Targets: Ngumoha 2 ‘, Nunez 5’, Doak 43 ‘, Elliott 58’; Guruzeta 76 ‘
Liverpool 3-2 Athletic Membership
Pre-season Pleasant (6) | Anfield
August 4, 2025
Targets: Salah 14′, 55′ 55′ 70′; Sancet 29′, Ga and OG 64′ 64′
1. Liverpool trying ominous
If Liverpool’s Premier League title rivals hoped that the quantity of participant turnover at Anfield this summer time would possibly result in a gradual begin, then these pre-season friendlies have given them little trigger for optimism.
Regardless of all of the change, the Reds have appeared remarkably slick, they usually appear primed to take groups aside in assault straight from the off.
That absolutely owes a lot to Arne Slot‘s expertise in coping with squad churn at Feyenoord, who typically misplaced their greatest skills each summer time.
However it definitely doesn’t damage when the gamers you might be including are world-class skills like Florian Wirtz.
2. Ngumoha will get first large Anfield second
He has been one of many stars of Liverpool’s pre-season marketing campaign, and so it ought to have come as no shock in any way that Ngumoha grasped his likelihood but once more right here.
However who actually thought the 16-year-old would clock up that kind of aim, after which shortly comply with it with a intelligent help?
If there have been any doubts remaining that Ngumoha is able to taking part in a real position for the primary group within the coming season then they’ve absolutely been answered by him bringing his brilliance to the Anfield stage.
Regardless of his tender years, this child is the actual deal and deserves to be given the possibility to compete with Cody Gakpo this season.
3. Nyoni evidences potential in unfamiliar place
Placing younger gamers in uncomfortable conditions is usually a great way of testing their mettle and it’s for that purpose that Trey Nyoni‘s efficiency felt eye-catching.
The 18-year-old is just not a centre-back by commerce, as he confirmed with some dangerous early passes that shouldn’t be performed within the defensive third.
Nonetheless, it says lots that he was trusted to function in that place regardless of his inexperience, and Nyoni evidenced why in rising into the sport impressively, with one defensive interception in a two-v-one state of affairs significantly grabbing the eye.
That is an clever younger footballer with a vibrant future, who followers at Anfield shall be seeing an terrible lot extra of.
4. Ekitike makes good impression on Anfield debut
It’s tough to debate Hugo Ekitike‘s qualities with out making unfair comparisons with Darwin Nunez, who after all scored in Monday’s first pleasant.
But when the Frenchman continues to mix work charge, tempo and power with the deftness of contact he confirmed at instances on this one, then he will certainly outstrip the person he’s successfully changing by advantage of the latter level.
There stays a rawness to Ekitike’s sport, as proven by Slot actively teaching him via every so often, however he additionally appears able to make an immediate influence.
If that help for Mohamed Salah and the chants of ‘Hugo! Hugo!’ are something to go by, Anfield is already warming to him.
5. Kerkez offers every thing
One other new signing who doesn’t appear to be having any bother successful over followers is Milos Kerkez.
And that’s due to the frequency with which he has put his physique on the road in challenges for Liverpool regardless of solely making a handful of pleasant appearances thus far.
You do barely fear that the Hungarian will fall on the incorrect facet of the road at instances and perhaps give away foolish fouls, however supporters will at all times love those that give completely every thing to win.
6. Defensive accidents a priority
These nervous about Liverpool’s defensive depth going into the brand new season is not going to have loved Virgil van Dijk being added to the record of absentees.
Happily, the Dutchman was solely out via sickness, and is anticipated to be again in time for the Neighborhood Defend this weekend.
Nonetheless, that the Reds had been in a position to name on only one precise senior centre-back – Ibrahima Konate – throughout the 2 video games right here speaks volumes about their plight.
Joe Gomez can’t be relied upon and Jarell Quansah hasn’t been changed; a centre-back signing is desperately wanted.
With Gomez joined on the therapy desk by Conor Bradley earlier than the match, too, the sight of Luca Stephenson pulling up with suspected cramp on the finish of the primary sport could have ensured Jeremie Frimpong was not risked for 90 minutes within the second.
For all of their power in depth elsewhere, Liverpool will want endurance and reinforcement earlier than they’ll get pleasure from the identical in defence.
