Liverpool will conclude their pre-season campaign by playing back-to-back games against Athletic Club at Anfield tonight (Monday). Arne Slot will be aiming to get minutes into the legs of as many players as he can ahead of the Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Liverpool, who have signed a host of players this summer, began pre-season with a 3-1 victory over Preston, with the game proving emotional following the tragic death of Diogo Jota. The Reds then thrashed Stoke 5-0 behind closed doors before travelling to Asia for a pre-season tour in late July. Slot’s side were dispatched 4-2 by AC Milan in Hong Kong before overcoming Yokohama F. Marinos 3-1 in Japan four days later, with the match going ahead despite a tsunami hitting the country hours before.

Why are Liverpool playing two matches?

Liverpool and Athletic Club have agreed to play two matches on the same evening so they can give game time to their whole squads.

Both managers will want to get a good look at all of their players ahead of the new season, with the Premier League and La Liga campaigns set to begin in under a fortnight.

What time is Liverpool vs Athletic?

The first match will get underway at 5pm, with the second encounter due to start at 8pm.

Fans who want to watch the second match will need to be in place for the first clash as turnstiles will close just after kick-off in the opener.

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Have the sides met in pre-season before?

Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao met in a pre-season friendly at Anfield in 2021, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.

On that occasion, Jota opened the scoring for the hosts, before Alejandro Berenguer Remiro hit back for the visitors.

The two clubs also faced each other in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in 2017, with the Reds winning that encounter 3-1. Roberto Firmino, Ben Woodburn and Dominic Solanke were the Liverpool scorers that day, with Inaki Williams notching for the Spanish side.

What next for Liverpool?

Liverpool will be aiming to get their hands on the Community Shield for the first time since 2022 next Sunday when they take on the Eagles at Wembley.

The Reds will then begin their Premier League campaign by hosting Bournemouth on Friday, August 15.

Slot’s side will also take on Newcastle and Arsenal in the opening month of the season after winning the title by 10 points last time around.