Why are Liverpool playing Athletic Club twice in one day during pre-season?

Liverpool and Athletic Club will face each other in back-to-back games in a bid to ramp up their pre-season preparations.

  • and Athletic Club to play twice
  • Clubs increasing pre-season efforts
  • Whole squads to be used and get minutes

Why are Liverpool playing Athletic Club twice in one day during pre-season?Why are Liverpool playing Athletic Club twice in one day during pre-season?Why are Liverpool playing Athletic Club twice in one day during pre-season?

The first game between the sides will kick-off at Anfield at 5pm (BST), it will last 90 minutes before the sides come out again for a second game 90-minute game at 8pm. The games are Liverpool’s final outings of pre-season before they turn their attentions to Wembley and the Community Shield against FA Cup winners . Reds boss Arne Slot will be hoping two back-to-back games will help him and his side feel wholly prepared for the trip to north-west London next weekend.

While it may sound surprising for two clubs to play back-to-back games, the two sets of squads for both fixtures will likely be vastly different. This will allow both Slot and his opposite number Ernesto Valverde the chance to experiment with new tactics and different combinations of players, whilst also ensuring maximum minutes at Anfield for the majority of the first-team squad. It is unclear yet whether one team will contain the Reds’ strongest XI, or if there will be a mixture of starters, squad players and youth-team prospects, but it will undoubtedly be an emotional occasion, as Anfield hosts a match for the first time since the death of Diogo Jota.

One player who won’t be involved is Alexander Isak. The Reds may have tabled a mammoth bid for the Newcastle forward, but agreement with the Magpies still appears a long way off. Eddie Howe’s side are hopeful of retaining their star man but are also pursuing the signature of Benjamin Sesko after missing out on Hugo Ekitike. Indeed, the home fans at Anfield will get a first look at the Frenchman on Monday following his £79 million ($107m) move from Frankfurt in the summer.

Slot will be hoping to end pre-season on a high and, more importantly, have his players fit and ready to begin the new campaign strongly. The Reds are favourites to retain their crown, but will be wary of and ‘s summer business, while ‘s performance at the Club will give them hope of mounting a serious title challenge.