Liverpool begin the first of two friendlies against Athletic Club with a youthful lineup at Anfield, as Alexis Mac Allister features in midfield and Darwin Nunez leads the attack.
Freddie Woodman starts in goal, protected by a back four of Curtis Jones at right-back, Kostas Tsimikas and Luca Stephenson as centre-backs, and Andy Robertson on the left.
Mac Allister anchors the midfield, supported by Harvey Elliott and Trey Nyoni in more advanced roles.
Up front, Arne Slot has gone with pace and flair, as Ben Doak, Rio Ngumoha and Nunez form the attacking trio.
Joe Gomez misses out due to injury, and Alisson remains unavailable after returning to Brazil for family reasons.
Slot is expected to make wholesale changes for the second game at 8 pm.
Liverpool XI vs Athletic Club (Game 1): Woodman; Jones, Tsimikas, Stephenson, Robertson; Mac Allister, Nyoni, Elliott; Doak, Ngumoha, Nunez
Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool are determined to honour the memory of Diogo Jota every single day, as the club returns to Anfield tonight for the first time since the forward’s tragic passing.
Diogo Jota and his younger brother André Silva died in a road accident in Spain on July 3, 2025. The 28-year-old Liverpool star had been travelling with André, 25, when their car veered off the A-52 motorway near Zamora during an overtaking attempt and burst into flames. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
Tonight’s double-header against Athletic Club marks Liverpool’s first home appearance since the tragedy, and Van Dijk used his matchday programme notes to share the emotion within the squad and their promise to carry on Jota’s legacy.
It has been a very challenging time, the captain wrote.
First and foremost for Diogo and Andre’s family, for Rute and the kids. They are the people who must always come first in all of this.
We will never forget Diogo, of course, but we just have to try to honour his memory. That’s what we try to do each and every day.
Jota had married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, just days before the accident. They had three children together. His brother André, a midfielder for Portuguese side Penafiel, also died in the crash.
Van Dijk admitted it still feels “surreal” as the squad tries to return to football, but said the unity within the club has helped them cope.
The club is very supportive in this, and that has been very important for all of us… I think the way everything has been handled so far has been the best way.
That’s also why it is very important that we honour and carry on his legacy, not only for now and the next couple of months, but for as long as we can, because that is what he deserves.
Liverpool players attended the funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, on July 5. Floral tributes shaped in the numbers 20 and 30, representing Diogo and André, were laid at the service, while the club has since retired Jota’s No. 20 shirt across all teams in a historic gesture.
‘Always Be With Us’: Van Dijk Pays Tribute To Diogo Jota On Anfield Return
Tonight’s matches are expected to be emotional, and Van Dijk said the team will take strength from the fans inside Anfield and across the world.
We are all in this together, we all have to go through this together, and we will. We will honour Diogo today, and in the future also. He will always be with us.
The support from the fans, and from the football world in general, has been incredible. That’s a beautiful thing.
As Liverpool prepares to kick off their new season, Van Dijk ended his message with a reminder of what matters.
Life can be short and it can be incredibly difficult at times. We all have to live it, enjoy it as much as we can and try to keep this world the best place possible.
So today, let’s honour him, let’s enjoy the games and let’s do it together. It’s good to see you all again.
Liverpool returns to Anfield on Monday for a pre-season double-header against Spanish side Athletic Club.
The Reds kicked off their summer schedule with a 3-1 win at Preston before beating Stoke City 5-0 behind closed doors. They then travelled to Asia, where they lost 4-2 to AC Milan in Hong Kong but bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan.
Arne Slot’s side now face their final tests of pre-season as they host Athletic Club twice in one day, just a week before the Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace.
Here’s how we expect the Reds to line up against Athletic Club.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Athletic Club
Defence
Giorgi Mamardashvili is expected to start in goal again, as Alisson remains unavailable. The back four could see Conor Bradley at right-back, with Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk forming the centre-back pairing. Milos Kerkez is expected to start at left-back after building up minutes in recent games.
Midfield
Ryan Gravenberch may continue in the deeper midfield role alongside Alexis Mac Allister, who returned to the starting XI in Japan. Both are likely to start as Arne Slot looks to settle his midfield options ahead of the new season.
Pre-Season 2025: Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Athletic Club
Attack
Florian Wirtz is expected to play as the No.10 again after two bright showings in Asia. Mohamed Salah should keep his place on the right, while Cody Gakpo is likely to continue on the left. Hugo Ekitike started against Yokohama and could lead the line again as he continues to build match sharpness.
Predicted XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Liverpool will finish their pre-season on Monday with two friendly matches against Athletic Club at Anfield.
The 2024/25 Premier League Champions are back from Asia after beating Yokohama F. Marinos 3-1 in Japan. Now they face the Spanish side twice in one day as part of their final preparations before the Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace on August 10.
Liverpool vs Athletic Club – Preview
Liverpool have won three of their four pre-season games but are still conceding goals. They beat Preston 3-1, Stoke 5-0 behind closed doors, and Yokohama F. Marinos 3-1. The only defeat came against AC Milan, who punished them with quick counter-attacks in a 4-2 loss.
The Reds have scored a total of 13 goals so far, with Florian Wirtz netting his first in the last match. The attack is becoming sharper with each game, but the defence remains shaky. They managed to keep a clean sheet only in the game against Stoke.
Pre-Season 2025: Liverpool vs Athletic Club Preview
Meanwhile, Athletic Club have not had a good pre-season so far. They have lost their last three games, including a 2-1 defeat to Racing Santander. They have scored only three goals in four matches and conceded five.
Last season, Ernesto Valverde’s team finished fourth in La Liga with 70 points. That earned them a Champions League spot for the first time since 2014. They had the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 29 goals across the season.
Their away form at the end of last season was strong. They won their final two games on the road. But before that, they went ten away matches without a single win.
Liverpool vs Athletic Club – Team News
Alisson Becker is not expected to feature after returning to Brazil for personal reasons. Joe Gomez is still out with an Achilles injury picked up last month. Federico Chiesa could return after missing the Asia tour with a muscle problem. Alexis Mac Allister came off the bench against Yokohama and may be fit to start.
Arne Slot is likely to pick a stronger team for one of the games, with this being the last outing before the Community Shield. Conor Bradley has been starting at right-back, with Van Dijk, Konate and Kerkez making up the rest of what looks like the first-choice defence.
Pre-Season 2025: Liverpool vs Athletic Club Preview
Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz are likely to continue in attack, with Mohamed Salah expected on the right. Curtis Jones, Endo, Robertson and youngsters Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni are all in line for more minutes.
Elsewhere, Athletic Club are facing a defensive crisis going into Monday’s double-header at Anfield. Unai Egiluz is out long-term with a knee injury, while Aitor Paredes has a muscle problem. Dani Vivian is the only fit senior centre-back, forcing manager Ernesto Valverde to rely on younger players like De Luis and try out Adu Ares and Prados in defence during pre-season.
In midfield, Mikel Vesga and Mikel Jauregizar are expected to start. Vesga scored in their most recent friendly and will likely play a deeper role. Nico Williams remains their main threat on the left, with Iñaki Williams likely to play on the right and Gorka Guruzeta up front.
Head‑to‑Head & Previous Meetings
Liverpool and Athletic Club have only met twice before, both in pre-season friendlies at Anfield. The first meeting came in August 2017, when Liverpool won 3‑1. Their most recent clash ended in a 1‑1 draw in August 2021, with Diogo Jota scoring a well‑worked opener before Athletic equalised in the second half.
Key Stats
Liverpool have scored 13 goals in 4 pre-season games this summer.
Athletic Club have lost their last 3 pre-season matches, conceding 5 goals.
Liverpool are unbeaten in both meetings with Athletic Club (1 win, 1 draw).
Liverpool will aim to finish pre-season strong with a win in front of the Anfield crowd.
The Colombian forward has signed a four-year contract with the German champions after Bayern’s €75 million offer was accepted earlier this week. He was left out of Liverpool’s recent pre-season matches as the deal neared completion.
Díaz later confirmed his departure in an emotional farewell post on Instagram, thanking the club, fans, teammates and staff for their support and paying a heartfelt tribute to the late Diogo Jota.
Luis Díaz Bids Emotional Farewell To Liverpool
“Three years and a half that I’ll treasure forever. I arrived with all the dreams in the world, and I am leaving proud of everything we achieved together.”
“I have met incredible people, fabulous colleagues, coaches who helped me a lot, and extraordinary fans. Liverpool is, indeed, a special team, and I will keep everyone in my heart. The cycle ends here, and it is so gratifying to look back and realize how happy we were.”
“I’ll Treasure It Forever” – Luis Díaz Bids Emotional Farewell To Liverpool
“Not only because of the trophies we won, but for the union and friendship that made it all possible. There were ups and downs, as there always are, but there was always truth. As it should be in a family. It’s good to be leaving with the feeling of a duty fulfilled, and, most of all, to be leaving a champion.”
“It would have been the perfect goodbye if we hadn’t lost one of ours in such a tragic way.”
“As I said, and I repeat, I carry everyone with me in my heart, but one of them in particular: Diogo.”
“I will never forget him. We will never forget him. Thank you for everything.” YNWA
He played 148 games for Liverpool, scoring 41 goals and providing 16 assists. The Colombian made a significant impact in his first season, helping the team win the FA Cup and League Cup. Despite some injury setbacks, Luis Díaz was crucial under Arne Slot, delivering his best goal tally and helping the club secure their 20th league title.
Now, Liverpool will begin a new chapter without him. With Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz already through the door, and with a strong interest in Alexander Isak, the Reds are building a new-look attack for the season ahead.
Liverpool have announced plans to honour Diogo Jota with a permanent memorial sculpture at Anfield, which will stand as the centrepiece of tributes to the late Portuguese forward, who tragically passed away alongside his brother Andre Silva.
The club confirmed that the sculpture will feature tributes from fans outside Anfield, including flowers, shirts, scarves, hats, artwork, flags, and banners, which have been carefully gathered and stored by staff over the past week.
Floral tributes are being composted for use in flower beds across Liverpool’s sites. The remaining items will be recycled by a specialist company to create the sculpture.
Liverpool Confirm Permanent Memorial For Jota and Andre At Anfield
The final design has not yet been confirmed, but the number 20 shirt worn by Jota is one of the options being considered.
Meanwhile, a temporary area for reflection has been created outside the Main Stand so fans can continue to pay their respects.
As part of the ongoing tributes, Liverpool players will wear a ‘Forever 20’ emblem on their match shirts and stadium jackets throughout the 2025/26 season, starting with the club’s pre-season tour in Asia.
During friendlies in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and at Anfield, the players’ shirts will feature a special ‘Diogo J 20’ patch, with floral tributes laid before each game.
From August 1, following the club’s switch from Nike to Adidas, the ‘Forever 20’ emblem will be displayed on the bottom seam of the new kits.
Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan has explained the reason behind the club’s heavy spending in this summer’s transfer window, saying it has been years in the making, and now is the time to act like one of the world’s biggest teams.
The Premier League champions have spent close to £300 million already this window, led by the headline arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez in what is shaping up to be one of the club’s boldest summer rebuilds.
It marks a big change in Liverpool’s transfer approach, especially under owners Fenway Sports Group, who are known for being careful with spending. But Hogan says this investment is part of a clear plan.
“It doesn’t just happen; it’s been years in the making,” Hogan told The Athletic.
“One of the things we’re constantly focused on is that ‘virtuous circle’. Trying to run the club in the right way to ensure that we can generate as much revenue as we possibly can. That obviously helps in terms of being able to put more back into the team.”
‘Years In The Making’ – Liverpool CEO Defends Summer Spending Spree
Hogan explained that while the spending may look heavy now, it’s all part of a bigger strategy that has been building for some time.
“The difficulty is if you just look at one individual summer. That probably skews the data. There were a lot of comments made last summer that we didn’t spend enough…”
He also said that winning the Premier League title last season, the club’s 20th league crown, has given them the confidence to act like a modern elite club.
“We also recognise, having won the English league title for the 20th time, that this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. We want to make sure that we are behaving like one,” he said.
“Having massive global stars come and play at Anfield, filling out stadiums in Hong Kong and Japan, those are things we expect and want to do.”
Liverpool are currently on tour in Asia and will face AC Milan in Hong Kong this Saturday before heading to Japan to take on Yokohama FM. The Reds begin their Premier League title defence at Anfield against Bournemouth on August 15.
Liverpool’s move for Hugo Ekitike moved quickly last week, and it started with a Zoom call.
According to ESPN reporters Beth Lindop and Julien Laurens, the Dutchman used the call to share his tactical plans for the coming season and where he sees Ekitike fitting in.
Slot made it clear he wanted a No.9 who could move, press, and link play, someone with both pace and awareness. Ekitike, who scored 22 goals and added 12 assists last season, was told he would bring something new to Liverpool’s front line.
How Arne Slot’s Zoom Call Convinced Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool first made contact with Ekitike’s camp as early as March. Despite strong interest from other clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle United, the striker felt wanted and understood after his conversation with Slot. Liverpool quickly became his top choice, and he pushed for a move to Anfield.
Florian Wirtz, another summer signing, also credited Slot’s influence as a factor in his decision to join Liverpool.
Liverpool have agreed a deal with Eintracht Frankfurt, reported to be worth an initial £69 million, with potential add-ons worth up to £10 million. Ekitike and his agent, Karl Mwalako, are currently in London to complete his medical and sign his contract. He is then expected to travel to Asia to join Liverpool’s pre-season tour.
If all goes to plan, the deal could be finalised by tomorrow
Liverpool have agreed personal terms with Hugo Ekitike as they close in on a major summer signing from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Multiple top sources, including Sky Germany, The Athletic, and Ben Jacobs, report that the 23-year-old striker is keen to join the Premier League champions, with terms between the player and club now fully agreed.
According to Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool have overtaken Newcastle United in the race, with the Reds offering more than the Magpies. Newcastle had a €75 million bid turned down earlier in the window, and have since dropped out. Liverpool’s proposal is said to be worth over €80 million (£69.2m), giving them the edge as talks continue.
David Ornstein of The Athletic adds that negotiations between Liverpool and Frankfurt are ongoing, but the feeling on all sides is that a deal can be struck soon. Manchester United also showed interest in Ekitike but did not submit a formal offer, while the player has always been drawn to a move to Anfield.
Reports: Liverpool Agree Personal Terms With Hugo Ekitike
Ben Jacobs, reporting for GIVEMESPORT, revealed that Liverpool have already made a verbal offer of more than £70 million, and Ekitike has accepted a six-year contract with the Reds. Frankfurt are still pushing for a deal closer to £85 million, but discussions are active and a compromise in the region of £75m–£80m could settle it, depending on how the payments are structured.
Jacobs also noted that while Liverpool enquired about Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, his £150 million price tag made Ekitike the more realistic and preferred option.
Ekitike impressed last season with 22 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for Frankfurt. He joined the Bundesliga side permanently from PSG last summer in a €17.5 million deal following a strong loan spell.
Arne Slot sees the Frenchman as a key part of his plan to refresh Liverpool’s attack, and with Liverpool agreeing personal terms with Hugo Ekitike, finalising the transfer fee is now the last step before the deal is completed.
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has rejected interest from Saudi Arabia, opting to continue his career in Europe amid growing uncertainty over his future at Anfield.
According to the Mirror, an unnamed Saudi Pro League club approached Konate’s representatives last week with a lucrative proposal for a summer move. The 26-year-old did not encourage, rejecting the approach outright and making it clear he wants to continue competing at the highest level in Europe. Had he been open to the idea, the Saudi club were ready to begin formal negotiations with Liverpool.
Konate has entered the final year of his Liverpool contract, and talks over an extension have reportedly stalled. Real Madrid are said to be monitoring the situation closely, with an eye on a potential free transfer in 2026, just months after signing Trent Alexander-Arnold from the Premier League champions.
Liverpool Star Rejects Massive Offer From Saudi Arabia – Reports
Liverpool’s centre-back options are currently stretched, especially after Jarell Quansah’s £35 million move to Bayer Leverkusen. Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, and Andy Robertson all featured in central roles during the pre-season win over Preston, though Endo is viewed as short-term cover.
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi remains a top defensive target, while Ajax’s Jorrel Hato is also being monitored. Whether Liverpool would consider selling Konate this summer remains unclear, but so far, no official offers have arrived.
Unless a new deal is agreed, Konate will be free to speak with foreign clubs from January 1. With Real Madrid still lurking in the background, Liverpool may be forced to decide before the transfer window closes.
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