Liverpool

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Liverpool were comfortable 4-1 winners over Athletic Bilbao in the first of a double-header of friendlies on Monday.

In the first match at Anfield since the deaths of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, the club paid tribute to the forward and his brother before the game.

Arne Slot fielded what was a mostly second-string starting XI for the first game, the second of which gets under way at 20:00 BST, with 16-year old Rio Ngumoha on the left wing - and he caught the eye as he has done all summer.

He netted in just the second minute as he ran onto a loose ball in his own half before racing forward and curling a fine effort in from 20 yards out.

Just three minutes later, the youngster nodded a Ben Doak cross down for Darwin Nunez to net from close range.

Doak and Harvey Elliott added to the lead, before Gorka Guruzeta pulled a consolation goal back for the visitors 15 minutes from time.

Ngumoha's impressive performance came on the back of an assist against AC Milan and a goal against Yokohama F. Marinos in Asian friendlies.

In January, the England under-17 international became the youngest player to start a match, and the second youngest to play, for Liverpool - aged 16 years and 135 days old - in the 4-0 win over Accrington in the FA Cup.

What do you make of Ngumoha's pre-season?

Should he be given a chance in the first team this season?

Or would he benefit from experience elsewhere first?

Let us know your thoughts

Liverpool paid tribute to Diogo Jota in their first match at Anfield since the late forward's death.

Liverpool legend Phil Thomson and Athletic president Jon Uriarte brought wreaths out on to the pitch and laid them on the edge of the six-yard box before the opening game.

The billboards around Anfield read 'Rest in Peace Diogo Jota and Andre Silva - You'll Never Walk Alone', while fans sang about Jota.

Reds supporters also held up flags and banners remembering their number 20 - a number that has been retired by the club this summer.

Both sets of players, coaches and fans applauded as the game was stopped in the 20th minute.

Read more over here

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Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

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Liverpool host Athletic Bilbao twice in a pair of friendlies on Monday evening and captain Virgil van Dijk has provided a message to fans in their first home outing since Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident.

"It has, of course, been a very challenging time," Van Dijk said in his matchday programme column.

"First and foremost for Diogo and Andre's family, for Rute and the kids. They are the people who must always come first in all of this. We must never forget that, and we cannot imagine their pain in this moment.

"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.

"But we are all in this together, we all have to go through this together, and we will. We will honour Diogo today, and in the future also. He will always be with us."

You can read the full tribute on Liverpool's club website, external.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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The Saudi Pro League is emerging as a possible destination for Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez this summer.

BBC Sport understands that a potential move to the Middle East for the Uruguay international has been explored this transfer window with intermediaries actively working on trying to broker a deal.

Al-Hilal, coached by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, are interested in Nunez.

However, there is some uncertainty over whether Nunez is prepared to leave European football at this stage in his career.

Nunez has also been a target for Italian champions Napoli this summer while other continental sides have also shown an interest.

Offloading Nunez would financially aid Liverpool's efforts to land Newcastle striker Alexander Isak this window.

We know the relationship between a football fan and their club is a special one so, as we gear up for the new season, we asked you to share why you fell in love with Liverpool and some of your favourite moments supporting them.

Here are some of your submissions:

Ben: As a lad from Birmingham, with a Blues-supporting dad and a Villa fan for a mum, Liverpool was a rogue choice. However, the first live game I was taken to was Leicester v Liverpool at Filbert Street back in the 1985-86 season. My brother's best friend, Si Morgan, had recently broken into a Leicester side that included Alan Smith and a young Gary MacAllister. So up we travelled on a cold midweek night after school for a match under the lights only to watch Leicester win.

However, my night was about to become one I'll never forget. After meeting up with Simon in the players' area, he said he had a surprise for me. I was taken into the Liverpool changing room, and met King Kenny who introduced me to all the players, including Bruce Grobbelaar, Alan Hansen and Ian Rush!

On top of this, I received a signed football, programme and letter-headed paper from both teams. As an awe-inspired 8 year old, it was then I was cast as a Red for life!

Send your pictures and stories here

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal see Liverpool and Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez as a priority target, with the 26-year-old receptive to the possibility of a move. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Manager Eddie Howe speaking from Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia on Alexander Isak and Liverpool's rejected bid for the striker: "I think from my situation, I am very much removed from everything that is happening back home.

"I was made aware there was a bid yesterday. That bid was turned down before I heard about it. There are people back in England dealing with the situation.

"I really don't know what is going to happen next but, from our perspective, we still support Alex in every way and my wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.

"The situation is far from ideal. It is quite complex. I think that is all I have got to say."

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It was a busy Friday, with Liverpool making a first official bid for Alexander Isak.

The Reds have tabled an offer of £110m, which was rejected by Newcastle United.

Champions Liverpool are prepared to walk away from negotiations and BBC Sport understands they do not think a deal for Isak is achievable this summer as it stands.

You can read more on the saga here and get fan thoughts and opinion on the page below.

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Brighton midfielder James Milner says he will wear the number 20 shirt for the 2025-26 season as a "mark of respect" to former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash last month.

Milner played alongside Jota for three seasons between 2020 and 2023 before leaving Anfield to join Brighton. The 39-year-old also travelled to Portugal for the funeral of Jota and his brother Andre Silva at the start of July.

Liverpool have retired the number 20 shirt worn by Jota in his five seasons at the club but Milner has opted to take the vacant shirt number at Brighton, after team-mate Carlos Baleba decided to switch numbers for the upcoming season.

Speaking to MyAlbion TV, external about his decision, Milner said: "Once I heard Carlos [Baleba] was looking to change his number and 20 was available, I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and to obviously pay tribute to Diogo Jota.

"He was an amazing player, who I was fortunate to play with, and he was a great friend as well.

"It will be a great honour to wear his number in the Premier League this year."

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Any transfer for Alexander will be seen as a "business decision" by Newcastle and factoring in time to buy his replacement will be key, says ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden.

Liverpool have now had an official bid for Isak rejected by Newcastle.

The Reds are already the top spenders so far this summer and it is expected they would have to pay a British-record fee for Isak's services.

"These transfers don't happen out of nowhere," Ogden told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"If Liverpool are sitting there comfortable and confident that Isak is going to be their player then it is because they probably know he wants to join them.

"Liverpool are a very, very appealing proposition to any player. We have to say that they are one of the biggest clubs in the world. Premier League champions right now, they are the place to be in the Premier League so they would appeal to anybody.

"If you are Alexander Isak – peak of your career, you want to win trophies, you are playing in the Champions League with Newcastle next season but, right now, it is who is going to offer you the best chance of winning the Champions League and the Premier League? It is Liverpool.

"Liverpool are sat there knowing they can get the deal done. If Newcastle's owners want to play hardball then they can do it, but football is run like a business. The view of the fans might be emotional but people in charge of things will not be emotional and if they think they can get £150m for this player having paid around £60m for him three year ago, they will be thinking they can invest that money in three or four top players.

"It will come down to a business decision and Liverpool probably know that.

"I think it will continue this summer, unless Newcastle make a decision that they want to end this now and get players in.

"But can you imagine Isak leaving for Liverpool, then having to play for Liverpool at St. James' Park a week into the season? That would be a really bad look for Newcastle.

"I think ultimately he will go to Liverpool, but he has to go with enough time that Newcastle can replace him. But the options to replace him aren't really there any more."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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Liverpool have launched their home and away kits for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Entering a new era with sponsor Adidas, the club have labelled their home kit 'Red, redefined' while a cream and black theme runs through the away strip.

What do you make of the Premier League champions' new threads?

Choose your verdict here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Chicago

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Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot intends to keep only good memories of his Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota, someone he regards as a role model for life.

Along with United team-mate Bruno Fernandes, Dalot attended the funeral of Liverpool forward Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 25, who were killed in a car crash in Spain on 3 July.

Like Jota, Dalot was born in northern Portugal. The pair were at Porto at the same time and also overlapped in the Portugal Under-21 set-up before becoming international team-mates at senior level in 2021.

Dalot says he will never forget Jota.

"When you are talking about the personal side, I don't look at the shirt he represents," said 26-year-old.

"I played a lot of years with him in the national team and spent time with him, so you create a connection and memories. That's what I want to keep, the good memories.

"I don't think there are any words to describe it when such a tragedy happens like that. It hits you.

"I felt the whole world felt it, even if they didn't know him personally."

Dalot said he had seen shirts during Manchester United's Premier League Summer Series encounter with Bournemouth at Chicago's Soldier Field dedicated to Jota.

"He was someone who was a role model for me. I always like to see a player's behaviour when they play and when they don't play," Dalot added.

"He was always putting the team first."

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Liverpool have confirmed their squad numbers for next season with a couple of notable changes, while the summer's seven new arrivals have also been handed their shirts.

Record signing Florian Wirtz has taken number seven, made vacant following Luis Diaz' move to Bayern Munich this week.

Milos Kerkez is the Reds' new number six while Jeremie Frimpong has chosen number 30, the same he wore at previous club Bayer Leverkusen. Hugo Ekitike will wear the No.22 jersey.

In the goalkeeping department, Giorgi Mamardashvili is number 25, Freddie Woodman number 28 and Armin Pecsi number 41.

Meanwhile, Conor Bradley has switched from number 84 to number 12 and Trey Nyoni from number 98 to number 42.

Premier League duo Liverpool and Bournemouth have both opted not to match newly promoted Saudi Pro League side Neom SC's huge offer for Nantes' French defender Nathan Zeze, 20. (TBR Football), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

On Monday, we asked you to tell us why you fell in love with Liverpool and some of your favourite moments supporting them.

You have already been getting in touch with your photos and stories and here is just a taste from Kingsley:

In the sixties my grandad told me that Everton would win the league. I disagreed and said it would be Liverpool. The next year, in the only game available for us to watch on television Liverpool won the FA Cup, followed by another league title.

With the advent of the Beatles, Liverpool seemed a magical place, and at the age of 13 I begged my mother to let me go there. She said I could if I find a friend to go with, so I took my imaginary friend and found my way onto The Kop. That is where I have enjoyed so many amazing games since.

I should mention especially the 1972-73 season, when I saw all 42 games live, home and away, and got my first passport to see them lift the Uefa Cup in Germany.

The picture above is when we drove to Rome in 1977 in a Renault 6.

So join the conversation and send your best photos about why you love Liverpool.

Your first visit to the stadium? A special kit? An amazing away trip?

Send your pictures and stories here

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Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey believes the new recruits at Anfield will be given plenty of time to acclimatise to Merseyside, despite the weight that comes with playing for the Premier League champions.

The Reds have brought in five signings so far this summer in Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike and Armin Pecsi.

"It's a different pressure to any other club," Heskey told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"At the end of the day, it's one of the biggest clubs in the world. You can go anywhere and you'll see a Liverpool shirt so that tells a story in itself.

"One thing I will say is that Liverpool fans are a lot different to many clubs. They will give you all the time you need and more to be honest. They have always backed their players, they always get behind them as long as you work hard.

"We've got some fantastic young players coming in and I think they are used to playing under that pressure so I don't see that being a problem."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Alex Keble
Football tactics writer

Liverpool's summer window has already been the most curious we have ever seen from a Premier League champion.

Signing Bundesliga stars en masse and swapping out both full-backs implies a major tactical shift that heralds the dawn of a new one.

But bringing in Newcastle United's Alexander Isak would push Liverpool's transfer business into unprecedented territory.

What exactly is Arne Slot thinking?

The simplest thing to do is fully convert Hugo Ekitike into a Luis Diaz replacement, following the Colombia forward's move to Bayern Munich.

Ekitike has played just nine games - two starts and 324 minutes in total - as a left-winger, although he has often tended to drift out to that side, most notably throughout 2023-24.

More importantly, the way Slot has used Cody Gapko and Luis Diaz - as one-on-one dribblers, using their acceleration to cut inside full-backs - corresponds with Ekitike's best qualities.

In the Bundesliga last season, Ekitike came fifth for attempted dribbles (126) and for shot-ending carries (44). He also provided eight assists and ranked fifth for 'attacking sequence' involvements.

He hasn't done it much before, but Ekitike has the makings of a Slot left-winger.

Read Alex's full piece