Athletic Bilbao triple up on Rio Ngumoha as he threatens to weave his way inside from the left, and still the teenager earns a corner for the home side.

It's eventually cleared by Athletic Bilbao after an unconvincing punch from the goalkeeper.

You try not to overhype young players too much, but you could forgive Liverpool fans for getting a bit giddy about Rio Ngumoha's potential on the basis of these opening minutes.

Athletic Bilbao are yet to turn up.

Conor Bradley and Virgil van Dijk have been ruled out of tonight's games because of a minor injury and illness respectively, while Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez remain unavailable.

Arne Slot says "it’s going to be tight" for Gomez and Bradley to make the Community Shield on Sunday, but expects Van Dijk and Alisson to be available.

You'll Never Walk Alone is played before kick-off, with the fans rising to their feet and holding up flags, scarves and shirts paying tribute to Diogo Jota, before welcoming football back to Anfield with loud cheers.

Athletic Bilbao have gone for a different approach and named their team for both matches in one squad.

Here's how Ernesto Valverde's side look for the start of the first game...

Athletic Bilbao XI: Padilla, Gorosabel, Prados, De Luis, Lekue, Rego, Vesga, Serrano, Gomez, Berenguer, Guruzeta.

Subs: Simon, Santos, Vivian, Sancet, I Williams, N Williams, Galarreta, Yuri, Jauregizar, Maroan, Navarro, Canales, Vencedor, Adama, Izeta, Adu Ares, Areso, Dunabeitia, Johaneko.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's how the teams are going to line up for friendly number one this evening.

Arne Slot names a youthful-looking Liverpool side which features teenagers Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni and Ben Doak.

Striker Darwin Nunez, who continues to be linked with a move away from the club, also starts.

Liverpool XI: Woodman, Tsimikas, Stephenson, Robertson, Nyoni, Jones, Elliott, Mac Allister, Doak, Ngumoah, Nunez.

Subs: Pecsi, Kone-Doherty, Koumas, Pilling, Danns, Lucky, Laffey.

Image source, Liverpool

On their return to Anfield, Liverpool's supporters have been paying tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, outside the stadium this afternoon.

Phil Thompson and Athletic Bilbao president Jon Uriarte have just walked out on to the pitch with flowers and laid them on the pitch as the fans applaud and sing Diogo Jota's chant.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Virgil van Dijk has also given his thoughts in the matchday programme, and the captain writes:

"It is still a bit surreal, to be honest, but we are coping in the best way possible as a team, and we are all trying to do the best job we can in order to get through this really difficult time.

“With everything that happened, it has been strange having to now try to carry on with work, with football. We will never forget Diogo, of course, but we just have to try to honour his memory. That’s what we try to do each and every day.

"I always come back to the fact that we have to look after Diogo’s family, his parents, and that’s the main thing. You think about so many different things, and it’s difficult to process. You can’t imagine the pain, the feeling that they have. That’s why we try to be there as much as we can, and for each other as well.

“That’s also why it is very important that we honour and carry on his legacy, not only for now and the next couple of months, but for as long as we can, because that is what he deserves."

This will be Liverpool's first game at Anfield since they lifted the Premier League trophy in May.

It will also be the first time that the team and supporters are reunited at the stadium since the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva.

"It will be great to be back at Anfield for the first time since we lifted the Premier League trophy back in May, and we are all looking forward to that," Arne Slot wrote in the matchday programme.

“Of course, we know that this will also be an emotional occasion, being the first time that we have played at home since we lost Diogo. I know that you will want to pay your tributes before, during and after the games, and I know that we will hear his song ringing out throughout the evening."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao will kick-off at 17:00 BST, before facing each other again at 20:00 after a bit of a breather and a debrief.

The Reds won games against Preston, Stoke City and Yokohama FM in July, but lost to AC Milan.

These are their final scheduled friendly matches before the Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley on Sunday.

Five days later, they begin their Premier League title defence against Bournemouth.

Image source, Getty Images

Good afternoon, folks.

The start of the season is fast approaching and today we're going to cast our eyes over the Premier League champions.

Liverpool are hosting Athletic Bilbao in back-to-back pre-season friendly matches at Anfield, with the first of those games just 15 minutes away.

Image source, Getty Images