Liverpool vs Athletic Club Preview (04/08/2025)

Liverpool welcome Athletic Club on Sunday, 4 August 2025, at 17:00 BST for a clash that promises excitement and intensity.

This encounter is part of the Club Friendly Games, giving both teams an opportunity to fine-tune their squads ahead of competitive campaigns. Liverpool and Athletic Club bring strong domestic pedigrees into this match, with the Reds coming off a solid Premier League season and the Basque side maintaining a competitive profile in LaLiga.

The odds reflect a tight contest, but with a slight edge to the Premier League outfit: 1.68 for Liverpool, 4.00 for the draw, and 4.60 for an Athletic Club win. While the home side carries the tag of favourites, Athletic Club have the potential to upset, especially in a friendly setting where rotations and experimental tactics are common.

In terms of managerial influence, both benches will be guided by experienced tacticians. Arne Slot leads Liverpool with a managerial record that includes 169 wins from 266 matches, with a preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. On the opposite touchline, Ernesto Valverde boasts 470 wins in 888 games and shares the same tactical preference.

Live markets often shift rapidly in friendly matches—especially with early substitutions and uneven intensity—so it’s worth reviewing our tips on live betting before placing in-play wagers.

Liverpool enter the fixture on a run that has seen both teams score in 6 of their last 7 matches, while five of those have also gone over 2.5 total goals. Defensively, the Reds are yet to keep a clean sheet in their last seven outings.

Athletic Club, meanwhile, have also seen both teams score in 6 of their last 7 games, with five of those finishing over the 2.5-goal mark. Like their opponents, they too have failed to record a clean sheet in their last seven. This pattern suggests we could be in for an open, goal-laden affair.

If you want to follow such trends and stat breakdowns in real time, check out our best UK betting apps that support live tracking of match metrics, cards, and goals.

Looking at the 2024/25 domestic league campaigns, Liverpool finished the season with an average player rating of approximately 7.07, scoring 86 goals and conceding 41 across their 38 Premier League matches. Their attacking output included 6.1 shots on target per game, along with 2.3 big chances created and a total of 65 assists throughout the season.

Athletic Club, meanwhile, posted slightly lower metrics in LaLiga, recording an average rating near 6.88, with 54 goals scored and 34 conceded. They registered 4.1 shots on target per match, 2.2 big chances per game, and accumulated 40 assists over the course of their campaign.

In terms of possession and build-up play, Liverpool held the ball for an average of 57.9% per game, completing 456.6 passes per match at an 86.3% accuracy rate. Athletic Club, in contrast, averaged 48.0% possession, with 331.6 passes per match at 81.9% pass completion.

Defensively, Athletic Club managed to keep 15 clean sheets, edging out Liverpool’s 14, and allowed slightly fewer goals per game (0.8 compared to 1.1). The Spanish side also posted higher numbers in interceptions and clearances, suggesting a more reactive, yet efficient, defensive strategy. Such stats can be vital when applying flat betting systems that focus on team balance and consistency.

Both teams enter this game with something to prove. Liverpool, as hosts, hold the upper hand in odds and attacking metrics, but Athletic Club’s defensive discipline and recent form make them credible opponents. With both sides leaking goals and showing scoring promise, an entertaining affair is expected.

Score pick: Liverpool 2 – 1 Athletic Club.