Liverpool beat Athletic Club in five-goal thriller in pre-season friendly

Liverpool recorded a 3-2 victory over Athletic Club in their second Anfield encounter of the day with the La Liga side on Monday.

Mohamed Salah steered the Reds into an early lead, finishing with trademark aplomb from Hugo Ekitike’s cutback across the area.

Oihan Sancet levelled for the opposing side on 29 minutes following a set-piece, but Cody Gakpo restored the home side’s advantage when he converted from close range shortly after half-time.

Athletic Club then equalised for a second time, Maroan Sannadi finding the net via a deflection with a header at a corner.

Gakpo’s Decisive Goal and Liverpool’s Anfield Debuts: Key Moments from the Match

The touch had come off Gakpo inside the area; however, the Netherlands forward would once again put Liverpool in front by drilling a low shot across goal and under Unai Simon in what would prove the game’s deciding moment.

Five of Liverpool’s summer arrivals were handed Anfield debuts for the club, with Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Florian Wirtz named in the XI. Virgil van Dijk missed out due to illness, so Salah took the captain’s armband. Conor Bradley was also absent due to a minor injury.

Having netted four times in the day’s earlier fixture between the sides, the Reds almost made the perfect start in this one, too. A counter-attack resulted in Ekitike sending Gakpo racing down the left. His cross into the centre took Simon out of the game and found the head of Wirtz, who looped an effort onto the roof of the net with five minutes played.

Then, shortly after, a free-kick routine on the edge of the area saw Salah roll the ball off to Dominik Szoboszlai, whose powerful drive was parried by the visitors’ goalkeeper.

Anfield Drama: Salah’s Assist and Athletic Club’s Equaliser

An even better opening would be fashioned as the Anfield scoreboard showed 13 minutes, with Salah playing a remarkable pass across the box for Gakpo. A scoop towards the far post skidded just wide.

Nevertheless, Liverpool’s early pressure duly told. Szoboszlai prodded a pass into space for Ekitike to run into. He skipped beyond Daniel Vivian with a double step-over and cut it back across the area, where Salah collected – albeit with a slight touch of fortune - and steered into the net.

One could have been two inside 60 seconds, but Wirtz’s hook at goal from a Salah centre was parried by Simon.

However, for all of the Reds’ dominance, Athletic Club levelled just before the half-hour mark when Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta’s free-kick towards the back post from deep was nudged back into the area by Vivian, allowing Sancet to take a touch and swipe in from 10 yards.

Ryan Gravenberch’s powerful blast from range threatened to put the hosts back in front almost immediately, but Simon pushed over the crossbar.

Ekitike and Gakpo Shine as Liverpool Secure Victory Over Athletic Club

Ekitike had the half’s first effort on goal six minutes in, clipping a low drive towards the corner from Salah’s pass; however, it lacked the power to truly trouble Simon.

A better opening would arrive on 55 as Liverpool sped forward on a counter. Kerkez stood a ball up into the centre from the byline, Ekitike headed down for Gapko and his shot into the ground was tipped over by Simon.

However, a moment later, the No.18 did have his name on the scoresheet. Gravenberch’s shimmy on the edge of the area enabled him room to strike and though the ’keeper managed to block, Gakpo was on hand to stab in the rebound.

But Gakpo was inadvertently to have a hand in Athletic Club’s second equaliser 10 minutes later when Sannadi’s header from a corner took a sizeable deflection off him to beat Mamardashvili.

His influence on the night wasn’t done there, though, and he ensured the Reds regained the advantage when a low shot across goal proved too much for Simon to keep out.

As the game entered its final stages, 17-year-old Will Wright was introduced from the bench having finalised a transfer from Salford City last week. He took the place of Wirtz, who received a standing ovation as he departed the field.

Liverpool had an opportunity to tighten their grip on the contest when Wataru Endo was fouled inside the box by Vivian, but Salah struck the resulting spot-kick over the bar.

Mamardashvili foiled Adu Ares’ curling effort to keep the Reds’ advantage intact, while Simon foiled Wright with a block at the other end.

But a highly satisfying day’s work for Slot and his side concluded in a second victory as attention now turns to Sunday’s FA Community Shield encounter with Crystal Palace at Wembley.

LIVERPOOLFC.COM