06/08/2025

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WEDNESDAY | AUG 6, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Mo shows who’s boss Salah scores as Liverpool unleash RM1.5b new signings against Athletic

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (left) in action with Athletic Bilbao’s Yuri Berchiche during their friendly match at Anfield yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

L IVERPOOL showcased £270 million (RM1.5b) worth of new signings in the 3-2 friendly victory over Athletic Bilbao but the goals still went to established Premier League winners Mohamed Salah – who also missed a late penalty – and Cody Gakpo. Florian Wirtz’s first look at Anfield gave fans a glimpse of why the club made him their – and with add-ons potentially a British – record signing with some clever touches and interplay and almost the opening goal. Head coach Arne Slot believes the Germany international will replace the crea tivity they lost from the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid. “I think there is always room for improve ment in every department and we have added a few, in my opinion, extra weapons,” said the Dutchman. “Florian has a lot of creativity in the final third and we have lost with Trent a lot of creativity from the back. “Trent’s crosses and picking out runners was so special – Flo has this quality in a totally differ ent position. He brings that creativ ity.” Wirtz’s fellow new signings also showed they were settling in well as Jeremie Frimpong linked up well with Salah, fellow full-back Milos

he told LFCTV . “That pleased me most, the ability to create chances. We have added Hugo (Ekitike), who will be a good player for us. Rio (Ngumoha) is showing good things in every game in pre-season. “But to concede two set-piece goals in the sec ond game is not what you want, especially if you play Crystal Palace on Sunday who are a team who are very strong on set-pieces. That’s another thing to work on.” In both matches Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash last month, was remembered with fans standing and clapping and singing the forward’s song. When the clock showed 20, action on the pitch also halted as players and officials joined in the applause. Liverpool’s second string won 4-1 earlier, after an erroneous fire alarm had evacuated the Main Stand before kickoff, with 16-year-old Ngumoha continuing his impressive pre-season form with a goal after just 87 seconds. Ben Doak, three years his senior, also scored while there were goals for Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott, two players whose futures appear to be away from Anfield. Nunez, who has been linked with Al Hilal for a while with AC Milan also opening talks over the Uruguay international, thumped the badge on his shirt in front of the Kop while Elliott was the last to leave the pitch having blown kisses to all four sides of the ground. – The Independent/Agencies

Kerkez was solid and Hugo Ekitike showed flexibil ity across the forward line. Ekitike, who played 57 minutes on his Anfield debut, said: “I enjoyed it a lot. It was such a good atmosphere. “I feel proud, and I just wish to play so many games in this stadium because it is amazing. “I am still trying to find connections with the other players. It is a pleasure to play with them. We have little things to fix, but I really enjoy playing with them. “I am sure we will do good things this season. It was important to play with confidence, but the real season starts on Sunday (in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, 10pm Malaysian time) . “We are looking forward to it. We are going to give 100%. I am here to win.” Wirtz headed onto the crossbar before Ekitike crossed for Salah to fire home and Gakpo scored twice after the break after Oihan Sancet had lev elled. Liverpool went into the double-header with just one recognised centreback with Virgil van Dijk ill and Joe Gomez injured and looked vulnerable at set-pieces, with Maroan Sannadi heading an equal iser from a corner. “The other games pre-season we have con ceded a few too many chances but today we hardly conceded anything at all and that pleased me as well,” added Slot. “In both games, we created a lot of chances. We scored seven goals and that is very pleasing to see,”

Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring Liverpool’s second goal yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

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