Salah and Gakpo Fire Liverpool to 3-2 Win Over Athletic Club

News Desk

Anfield: Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo played key roles as Liverpool secured a thrilling 3-2 win over La Liga’s Athletic Club in their second match of the day at Anfield.

Salah gave the Reds an early lead with a trademark composed finish, slotting home after Hugo Ekitike’s clever cutback across the box. Despite Liverpool’s dominant start, Athletic Club equalized in the 29th minute when Oihan Sancet fired in from close range following a deep set-piece delivery from Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta.

Shortly after the break, Gakpo restored Liverpool’s advantage by converting a rebound from close range after Ryan Gravenberch’s shot was parried by Unai Simon.

However, Athletic Club responded once again. Maroan Sannadi headed in from a corner, with the ball taking a deflection off Gakpo inside the box to level the score at 2-2.

But Gakpo had the final say, scoring what proved to be the winner with a low-driven shot across goal that beat Simon, ensuring a second victory of the day for Arne Slot’s side.

The game also marked the Anfield debut for Liverpool’s five summer signings: Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Florian Wirtz — all included in the starting lineup.

With Virgil van Dijk sidelined due to illness, Salah wore the captain’s armband, while Conor Bradley was absent with a minor injury.

Match Summary

Liverpool got off to a bright start, having scored four earlier in the day against the same opposition. Ekitike led a swift counterattack and set up Gakpo, whose cross drew Simon out of position and found Wirtz, who headed just over.

Soon after, a clever free-kick routine saw Salah tee up Dominik Szoboszlai, whose powerful strike was denied by Simon. The pressure paid off in the 13th minute when Szoboszlai slipped Ekitike through, who beat Daniel Vivian and squared for Salah to finish — albeit with a touch of luck.

Wirtz nearly doubled the lead a minute later, but Simon once again came to Athletic’s rescue.

Athletic Club’s equalizer came against the run of play, with Sancet pouncing on a loose ball inside the area after Vivian had headed down a long free-kick into the danger zone.

Gravenberch’s thunderous long-range strike tested Simon again before the break, and Ekitike saw his low shot saved early in the second half.

Liverpool regained the lead in the 55th minute when Kerkez whipped in a cross that Ekitike directed toward Gakpo. His first shot was saved, but he reacted quickest to fire home the rebound.

Athletic made it 2-2 ten minutes later, with Sannadi heading in from a corner — the ball taking a deflection off Gakpo that wrong-footed Mamardashvili.

But Gakpo redeemed himself moments later, firing a low shot across goal that slipped under Simon to make it 3-2.

Seventeen-year-old Will Wright made his Anfield debut off the bench late on, replacing Wirtz, who received a warm ovation.

Liverpool had a chance to seal the win when Wataru Endo was brought down in the box by Vivian, but Salah missed the resulting penalty, sending it over the bar.

Mamardashvili made a vital save from Adu Ares to protect the lead, while Simon denied Wright at the other end.

Slot’s side will now turn their attention to Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace at Wembley, following a productive day of preseason action.