Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

And there was further evidence of that on Monday during Liverpool's friendly double-header against Athletic Bilbao.

READ MORE:Darwin Nunez transfer latest as Liverpool striker holds talks over Anfield exitREAD MORE:Florian Wirtz makes Premier League admission and reveals truth about £116m Liverpool transfer issue

The first encounter drew the greater attention, given the starting line-up was primarily occupied by fringe players and those whose Anfield futures have been called into question in recent weeks.

And the reactions of Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott in particular prompted speculation over their respective futures.

Certainly, Elliott appeared emotional when, after the final whistle, he made a point of applauding all four stands while patting the club badge, repeating his response to scoring Liverpool's third goal in their eventual 4-1 triumph.

Article continues below

While his stock should be high after helping England to a second successive UEFA European Under-21 Championship earlier in the summer, Elliott's first-team opportunities under Arne Slot have been hampered further by the arrival of club record £116million signing Florian Wirtz, who starred in Monday's second friendly.

Elliott has been deemed a number 10 by Slot and featured there against Bilbao.

But he failed to start a Premier League game in the position last season until after the title was won having played second fiddle to Dominik Szoboszlai and, on occasion, Curtis Jones.

And with fierce competition for the bench expected for the Premier League opener at home to Bournemouth on Saturday week, it could be Elliott was making his final appearance at Anfield as a Liverpool player, even if reported interest from a number of clubs has yet to materialise into a concrete bid.

The same, too, can be said of Nunez.

Having earlier scored Liverpool's second, he made a point of acknowledging the warm support from all sections of the stadium as he left the field when substituted in the second half.

AC Milan and Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are the two chief suitors of the Uruguayan.

The goalscorer of Liverpool's third goal in the opening friendly, 19-year-old winger Ben Doak, is attracting strong interest from Premier League duo Wolves and West Ham United having earlier in the year been courted by Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town and Everton.

Much was read into the fact Kostas Tsimikas, who started at left-back, echoed the Instagram posts of Nunez and Elliott by posting a heart emoji along with a picture of him in action from the game, not least given Liverpool have a surfeit of options in his preferred position.

In the evening's second game, arguably only Federico Chiesa has an immediately uncertain future.

Regardless, Anfield most likely bade at least one farewell on Monday evening.
For more news relating to Everton, visit our sister site EFC Live.