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ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool continued its pre-season preparations by easing to victory against Athletic Club — with a completely different side set to take to the field in a second game shortly.
In the less experienced XI, Rio Ngumoha scored a screamer inside a couple of minutes, and before Athletic Club knew what was happening, he had teed up Darwin Nunez to pass the ball into the corner from close range. Ben Doak, on the other flank, also did well and scored, while Harvey Elliott smashed home a fourth early in the second half.
Gorka Guruzeta pulled one back after a misplaced Luca Stephenson header. Here are the four things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.
Midfield duo stand out
Alexis Mac Allister made his return from injury last week against Yokohama Marinos, and he looked sharp in the middle of the pitch here for 55 minutes. He and Curtis Jones were both far too good for their Athletic Club counterparts.
Mac Allister is always a step ahead of the rest, while Jones was especially sharp. With Ryan Gravenberch suspended for the first match of the new season, it will likely be Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai who start as a two, with Florian Wirtz ahead of them. Jones, though, couldn't have done much more to stake a claim.
When the season kicks off, he will get plenty of chances. Here, he was able to confidently dance around challenges. At his best, he can be untouchable.
Rio Ngumoha electric
Rio Ngumoha now has two goals and two assists this pre-season for Liverpool. With Luis Diaz having joined Bayern Munich, there is a spot available on Arne Slot's roster, and it looks like the former Chelsea talent has taken note.
Ngumoha doesn't turn 17 until the final Friday of this month, and yet he already looks to have the build and the quality to excel at senior level. He has all the skills required.
Yes, this was a pre-season game, and yes, it is still very early days. But this was the fourth-best team in Spain last season — making it a Champions League side. Ngumoha didn't just look at home; he thrived.
Ben Doak reminder
Ngumoha will take the headlines, but Ben Doak was also very impressive down the opposite flank as well. A visa issue meant that he had to sit out the Yokohama Marinos game and there remains transfer interest in him this summer, but this was a timely reminder of what he can do.
At times, so far in his senior career, Doak has lacked end product. He got his name on the scoresheet here, though, and really took Unai Gomez, the Athletic Club left-back, to task.
His low center of gravity and speed across the ground are hugely important assets. His main problem next season if he stays at Anfield will be trying to oust Mohamed Salah for long enough to make an impact.
Center-back options
With Virgil van Dijk out through illness and Joe Gomez still injured, Liverpool is now down to just one fit senior center-back. If it wasn't already a priority for the remainder of the transfer window, this was very much another reminder.
Andy Robertson's best route to minutes in the next few months, after the arrival of Milos Kerkez for around $60 million (£45 million) might actually be in the middle. Seeing him there for too many games, though, would be a concern.
Alongside the Liverpool captain, Trey Nyoni slotted in brilliantly. The 18-year-old midfielder is exceptionally poised on the ball, but he was very good positionally in a new role too. Again, it can't be a long-term plan, but it worked here.
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