Overview
So far, Liverpool have had mixed results in pre-season. They won against Preston North End and Yokohama, but lost 2-4 to AC Milan, in the context of a weak defense against counter-attacks.
Although the results of the friendly matches are unlikely to accurately predict the future, the fact that coach Arne Slot's team did not keep a clean sheet in all 3 matches before the season is a concern. Especially when they ended the 2024-2025 season with conceding 9 goals in the last 4 matches.
However, the Dutch strategist can be satisfied with the explosion in attack. Liverpool have scored 8 goals in 3 pre-season matches, in which rookie Florian Wirtz left his mark with a goal against Yokohama.
Wirtz promises to improve Liverpool's ability to create opportunities in the final third. Before that, The Kop ended the 2024-2025 Premier League campaign as the team with the most goals in the tournament (86 goals).
In pre-season friendlies, Liverpool have won two and lost one. In the 4 official matches at the end of last season, they had 2 defeats and 2 draws, although they still won the championship before 4 rounds.
At home, the "Red Brigade" was the best team last season, winning 14/19 matches at Anfield, losing only 1 match. In the European arena that season, they also suffered only 1 defeat in 5 home matches.
In the most recent friendly match on July 30, Athletic Bilbao suffered a 1-2 defeat to Racing Santander, extending their streak of consecutive losses to 3 matches in the pre-season.
Under the leadership of coach Ernesto Valverde, Bilbao ended the 2024-2025 La Liga season in fourth place with 70 points - one level higher and 2 points more than last season. They have qualified back to the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14.
The Basque side have scored 54 goals in the Spanish top flight, seventh in points tally. However, their 29 goals conceded are their best in the league.
Athletic Bilbao and Liverpool have not met too many times before. The last time they met was a 1-1 draw in a friendly match in August 2021. In the previous 3 encounters, Bilbao drew 1 and lost 2 against the English team.
Valverde's side have won their last two away games of the 2024-25 season, but have won just five of their previous 10 and drawn five.
Personnel situation
Ahead of the upcoming Super Cup match, Arne Slot may field his strongest starting lineup against Bilbao, to improve his fitness and maintain the pace of the match. Striker Hugo Ekitike and attacking midfielder Wirtz are expected to be in the starting lineup.
On the other side of the front line, goalkeeper Unai Simon will likely be defended by the central defender duo Daniel Vivian and Inigo Lekue in this match.
In midfield, midfielder Mikel Vesga, who scored in his most recent appearance, is expected to start alongside Mikel Jauregizar.
Expected lineup:
Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike.
Athletic Bilbao: Simon, Ares, Lekue, Vivian, Boiro, Jauregizar, Vesga, I. Williams, Gomez, N. Williams, Guruzeta.
The match between Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao takes place at 23:00 on August 4 (Vietnam time).
