Liverpool closes out their preseason with a pair of matches vs. Athletic Club on Monday, August 4th at Anfield. It will be split squad friendlies, meaning that Arne Slot will name two different Starting XI’s and benches, one for each game.
Going Clubbing
Athletic Club, also known as Bilbao, is one of the most successful clubs in La Liga history, having won 8 titles since their founding in 1898. They have played four official matches with the Reds, with the last one coming in 1983. Liverpool won that game 1-0 on a goal by Ian Rush. Athletic Club made a nice run in the Europa League last season before falling to Manchester United in the semi-finals. They are 1-3 in matches played so far during this preseason.
Double The Fun
I like the Idea of playing two games here. It gives all the players a chance to stretch their legs and go a full 90 in preparation for the Community Shield on August 10th. What will be most interesting is who Arne Slot decides to play in each match.
Latest On Darwin
Darwin Núñez has been linked to a move to several different clubs, but AC Milan have emerged as the favourite. It has been reported by several outlets that Núñez is not happy with his lack of playing time, as he only made 17 starts across all competitions a year ago. He scored 7 goals but also picked up 9 cautions during that time. With the Reds pushing to add another striker, Núñez will likely join Luis Diaz and leave the club, but nothing official has been announced as of yet.
LFC Globe Verdict
August 4th will feel a bit like Christmas. All Liverpool, All day long It may be the last chance to see Núñez in a Red’s shirt, so I hope he plays well. I expect the lads to get a boost from the hom crowd at Anfield, come away with a pair of wins and be primed and ready to compete for the Community Shield.
Where To Watch
The matches will kickoff at 1700 BST and 2000 BST respectively and will stream worldwide on All Red Video, Liverpool’s official streaming platform.
