As a teenager Rio Ngumoha scored a superb solo goal while Liverpool beat the 4-1 athletic club in the first of the two pre-season friendly games in Anfield on Monday.
Darwin Núñez, Ben Doak and Harvey Elliott were also on the target for the hosts in the first title of the double chef on Monday, while Gorka Guruzeta found the bottom of the net for visitors.
It was the first time that Liverpool has been playing Anfield since the death of striker Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, with the former captain of Liverpool Phil Thompson and the president of the sports club Jon Uriarte posing crowns in front of the Kop in tribute before kick.
Jota’s song could also be heard out of the stands throughout the match and there was a period of applause in the 20th minute in recognition of Jota’s shirt number, which Liverpool confirmed that they would retire last month.
While the head coach Arne Slot chose not to play most of his regulars of the first team in the first of the friendly matches on Monday, Liverpool started the match well and took the lead in two minutes when Ngumoha led from the inside of his own and curled up a firter corner. It was the second 16-year-old pre-season goal after his superb strike against Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan last week.
NGUMOHA then quickly transformed the supplier, directing the ball down so that Núñez at close range after only five minutes. Visitors almost pulled one back when Andoni Gorosabel crushed a shot against the top of the crossbar, but Liverpool did it 3-0 before the break when the doak shot was torlled under Alez Padilla in order to visitors.
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The athletics club again threatened at the start of the second half, Guruzeta forcing Hungary Youth International Ármin Pécsi in a fine and sprawling judgment. Liverpool consolidated his domination when Núñez passed Elliott to shoot his fourth just before the hour mark, before the athletics club reduced the deficit through a Guruzeta head in the 76th minute.
Liverpool and Athletic Club will be part of the very changed teams in a second friendly match in Anfield on Monday evening. Captain Virgil Van Dijk is expected to miss the disease while defender Conor Bradley will be absent with an injury.
The goalkeeper Alisson Becker will not be involved either, after leaving Liverpool’s pre-season tour last week due to a personal affair.
