Liverpool are set to conclude their 2025 pre-season with a unique doubleheader against Athletic Club at Anfield on August 4, 2025. The Reds will play two distinct matches on the same day, each with separate lineups, under manager Arne Slot’s new regime aiming to assess squad depth and tactics ahead of the upcoming season.
Earlier in pre-season, Liverpool secured wins against Championship sides Preston North End and Stoke City before travelling to Asia for friendlies versus AC Milan and Yokohama F. Marinos. They suffered a defeat to Milan but bounced back with a spirited 3-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos, indicating growing cohesion as they prepare for competitive fixtures. Mohamed Salah once again demonstrated his class during these friendlies, thrilling fans with his skill and goal-scoring prowess.
Athletic Club, managed by Ernesto Valverde, are considered stern opposition despite a challenging pre-season marked by three straight defeats, including a surprising loss to second-tier Racing Santander. The Basque side will test Liverpool’s readiness, especially as they hold a slight historical edge with one win to Liverpool’s two in their past meetings, the last of which was a narrow 1-0 Liverpool victory in a 1983 European Cup tie.
The matches will kickoff at 5 p.m. BST and 8 p.m. BST respectively at Anfield, providing fans with plenty of action and a good measure of both teams’ preparations. Arne Slot’s use of two unique starting lineups underscores Liverpool’s strategy to evaluate all squad members and their tactical versatility ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
This double friendly represents not only a rigorous test of Liverpool’s squad depth but also a glimpse into how Slot intends to mold the team going forward, balancing youth and experience against the resilient and technically adept Basque club.
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