Teenage sensation Rio Nguhoma continued to shine on the field, while Hugo Ekitike helped out his team by making his first assist. Liverpool enjoyed a successful time in two friendly matches against Athletic Club at Anfield, winning 4-1 in one game and 3-2 in another.
Since Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, suffered a heartbreaking loss, these two games were the first to be played at home. To honor them, both games paused in the 20th minute as fans stood up and sang Diogo’s name, remembering the impact he had on the community.
Ngumoha’s Early Goal Sets the Tone
Nguhoma started the evening with an impressive goal just two minutes into the match, scoring the first point for his team. A few minutes later, he assisted Darwin Nunez, who scored another goal, making it 2-0.
During a recent match, one of the team’s young players, Ben Doak, praised his 16-year-old teammate by calling him “ridiculous” for his outstanding performance. The victory was also greatly aided by Doak himself, particularly when Alex Padilla, the goalkeeper, unintentionally knocked his cross into goal shortly before halftime.
He remarked, “That player is amazing,” following the game. “He has a bright future ahead of him! He’s so quick and really skilled.”
“If he continues to stay on this path, there’s no limit to what he can achieve.”
Harvey Elliott Seals Victory Despite Defensive Error
Harvey Elliott sealed the victory with a nicely taken goal, but there was a slight downside to the match when Luca Stephenson made a mistake that allowed Gorka Guruzeta to score a goal for the other team. Despite that, it was still a successful first friendly match.
Arne Slot chose what many consider to be his best team for the second match, although he was missing two key players: Virgil van Dijk, who was out due to illness, and Alisson Becker, who had to sit out for personal reasons.
Ekitike & New Signings Make Anfield Debuts
Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez all had the chance to play at Anfield for the first time, and it was the French striker who stood out. In the 14th minute, he set up a goal by passing the ball to Mohamed Salah, giving the Reds an early lead that they richly deserved.
There was a lot of energy, teamwork, and determination in Liverpool teams performance. However, they struggled a bit without their captain leading the defense.
Konate & Endo Exposed in Central Defense
Due to Joe Gomez being injured earlier in the pre-season and Jarell Quansah transferring to Bayer Leverkusen, Wataru Endo took the field alongside Ibrahim Konate in the central defense. Unfortunately, they didn’t do a great job of stopping Oihan Sancet when the ball came to him in the penalty area, which allowed him to score the equalizing goal.
Gakpo’s Rollercoaster Performance
Cody Gakpo had a rollercoaster of a game at Anfield, scoring two goals and accidentally heading the ball into his own net within just 15 minutes. This exciting finish contributed to a thrilling match, with Slot’s team coming out on top with a 3-2 victory in their second game.
Similar to the first game, there was just one noticeable mistake in the performance. Salah fired the ball over the goal and into the stands, but he missed a penalty kick. However, this error will likely be forgotten quickly.
Liverpool’s Promising Pre-Season Continues
The match gave fans and the coaches a glimpse of what a complete Liverpool team could be like and how they might perform together, though worries about injuries could still be a factor.
Up Next: Bournemouth on Friday Night Football
On August 15, Liverpool will take on Bournemouth in a live game on Friday Night Football. Coach Slot mentioned that key players Van Dijk and Alisson are expected to return for this game, but Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez may not be ready in time for the start of the season.
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