liverpool fans filled anfield with joy and loud chants as they watched their team play their first friendly match of the double header against athletic bilbao the stadium was packed with energy and excitement from the very beginning everyone was happy to see their team back in action and the result brought even more smiles liverpool beat athletic bilbao 4-1 in a game that was not just about the goals but also about how the team played how the players moved the ball how the manager stood on the sideline giving instructions and how the new season now looks like it will be filled with hope and happiness for the red side of merseyside
before the match started there was a buzz in the air liverpool fans have waited for the return of football and with new manager arne slot taking charge of his first preseason at anfield the expectations were high people wanted to see if he could bring something new to the club and make the team play exciting football the match was the first of two friendlies and it felt like a statement liverpool were back and they were hungry to win and entertain
when the referee blew the whistle for kickoff it did not take long before the game started going in liverpool’s favour the players looked sharp they passed the ball quickly and the movement off the ball was impressive fans saw the likes of trent alexander arnold playing his usual creative role from deep while others like jota and nunez showed hunger to score goals
the first goal came after some neat buildup play from the back the ball was passed from one player to another with speed and accuracy until it reached luis diaz who beat his marker with a quick turn and fired the ball into the net with his left foot the stadium erupted with cheers the first goal of the match had come and liverpool looked in control
athletic bilbao tried to fight back they passed the ball around and had one or two shots on goal but they could not keep up with liverpool’s pace in midfield players like mac allister and endo controlled the middle of the pitch and gave no space to the spanish side it looked like liverpool had prepared well for the match and the tactics of the manager were working perfectly
the second goal came just before halftime this time it was darwin nunez who got on the score sheet after a brilliant assist from trent alexander arnold who curled in a beautiful cross from the right wing nunez jumped higher than the defenders and nodded the ball into the net the crowd went wild they had missed this feeling the joy of seeing their team dominate and score goals at anfield
the players walked off the pitch at halftime with a two goal lead and fans applauded them the atmosphere inside the stadium was full of hope and belief in the second half liverpool made some changes giving opportunities to young players who wanted to prove themselves it was one of those moments where you see the future of the club take shape in front of your eyes
one of the young players who caught everyone’s attention was ben doak his pace and confidence on the ball made the crowd cheer every time he touched the ball he was not afraid he went at defenders and showed that he wanted to be part of the first team squad this season his attitude and performance were impressive
the third goal came shortly after the break and this time it was a team goal the kind of goal that showed chemistry understanding and training the ball moved from one side of the pitch to the other with quick passes before jota slotted it past the bilbao keeper it was simple clean and beautiful football anfield celebrated again with claps and chants as the scoreboard showed 3-0
athletic bilbao managed to score a consolation goal midway through the second half it came from a defensive mistake as one of the young defenders lost focus and gave the ball away the spanish side took advantage and scored past kelleher who had little chance to stop the shot even though they had conceded liverpool did not lose control of the game they kept pushing forward
towards the end of the game liverpool scored the fourth goal this time it was a penalty after a handball was spotted by the referee from the resulting corner kick cody gakpo stepped up and calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net the keeper dived the wrong way and the fans cheered once again it was a perfect ending to a strong performance
after the final whistle the players walked around the pitch clapping and thanking the fans for their support it felt like the beginning of something new and fresh with arne slot leading from the touchline his first big test at anfield ended in a win but more than the win it was the style of play the pressing the hunger the unity that stood out
you could see the players enjoyed themselves on the pitch they played with freedom they played with confidence and they played for each other the fans noticed it and they responded with loud chants of you’ll never walk alone echoing around the stadium as the players waved goodbye and headed back to the dressing room
behind the scenes arne slot was seen smiling and chatting with his staff he knows it’s still preseason and there is more work to be done but this was a good sign he has started well and the team looks ready for the challenges ahead he knows the premier league will not be easy but if liverpool keep playing like this they will be a force to reckon with this season
during his post match interview arne slot praised the team he said he was happy with how they played and how they followed instructions he mentioned that the players showed character and that the young boys who came in during the second half also played well he did not want to get carried away but he said the signs are good and the team is moving in the right directio
one of the reporters asked him about the atmosphere and he said it was special he said playing at anfield is always magical and he was glad the fans came out to support the team even for a preseason friendly he added that the players felt the energy and it gave them extra motivation to push harder and perform better
another highlight of the match was the return of some players who had been injured last season they were back on the pitch running and playing freely this is important for liverpool because injuries affected their campaign last year having a full squad available means more options for the manager and more competition for places which always brings the best out of players
as the fans left the stadium they were smiling talking to each other about the goals the players and what the new season might bring you could hear people saying things like this team looks sharp or nunez is ready this season or slot has made them more aggressive these are the kind of comments that show fans believe in the team again
some fans stayed back to take pictures near the stadium others waited outside hoping to see players leaving and maybe get a selfie or an autograph it’s moments like these that make football special the connection between the fans and the players is real and it grows stronger with performances like this
the win over athletic bilbao was more than just a friendly victory it was a message liverpool are back they are hungry and they want to win trophies again the team played with rhythm and passion the manager looked calm and focused and the fans were once again proud of their club
the second friendly in the double header is just around the corner and now everyone is looking forward to it with more excitement the performance against bilbao has raised expectations and fans want to see even more from their team they want to see consistency hunger and good football if liverpool can keep this up the season ahead could be special
it’s still early days but there is a new feeling around anfield something positive something fresh and something that fans have been waiting for since last season ended if this first friendly is anything to go by then the future looks bright for liverpool the goals the teamwork the atmosphere everything felt right and now the journey continues with the next game and the next challenge
the story of liverpool’s preseason has just begun but already it is filled with hope drama goals and excitement and if the team keeps building on this then who knows how far they can go this season for now though this 4-1 win over athletic bilbao will be remembered as the perfect start to a new chapter under a new manager with a new dream that every liverpool fan hopes will end in silverware come next may
the journey has started and anfield has come alive again the players have shown what they can do and the manager has shown he can lead them the fans have shown they still believe and football has returned with a bang on merseyside this is just the beginning but it already feels like something big is about to happen and liverpool fans everywhere are ready for the ride they will sing they will cheer and they will hope because this is their club and this is their season and it all started with a 4-1 win that lit the spark and opened the door to a new adventure one that they all hope will end in glory
that is how liverpool announced their return not with words but with action with goals with pressing with smiles and with unity and the world watched as the reds reminded everyone that they are not done yet they are only just getting started
