Liverpool return to Anfield for the first time since being crowned Premier League champions when they conclude their preseason preparations on Monday, August 4.
Arne Slot's side wrapped up their tour of Asia with a victory over Yokohama F. Marinos last week, having played low-key domestic affairs against Preston North End and Stoke City before the trip.
With a visit to Wembley Stadium on the horizon to face Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday, August 10, Liverpool take on Athletic Club on Merseyside for their last warm-up ahead of the new season.
However, it's a friendly date with a difference.
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Why are Liverpool playing Athletic Club twice?
Slot will get the chance to give his squad a full workout because Liverpool play Athletic twice on Monday. Essentially, this double-header is designed to allow each side to give as many squad players as possible the chance to build up match sharpness ahead of the new season.
The first match against Ernesto Valverde's side will kick off at 5 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET), with a second following at 8 p.m. (3 p.m. ET).
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Liverpool did something similar last year when they beat Sevilla 4-1 at an Anfield friendly open to the public, before playing Las Palmas behind closed doors after the ground cleared out. The two starting lineups were completely different, and Slot will almost certainly do the same this year.
However, ticketholders will be able to watch both games between the two Liverpool and Athletic XIs this time.
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What is Liverpool's record against Athletic Club?
Liverpool and Athletic are familiar preseason opponents, having faced off in 2021 and 2017.
The teams played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield four years ago, while Jurgen Klopp's Reds won 3-1 in Dublin in the earlier encounter.
We have to go a little further back for competitive meetings, the most recent of which came in the 1983/84 European Cup. Liverpool's all-time top scorer Ian Rush scored the only goal over two tense legs in the second round. Joe Fagan's side went on to lift the trophy with a penalty-shootout victory over Roma in the final at the Stadio Olimpico.
Liverpool would have dearly loved penalties to be in effect when they met Athletic in the Inter-City Fairs Cup first round in 1968/69. The tie finished 3-3 on aggregate after a 2-1 win apiece. The Basque giants then progressed courtesy of a coin toss.
Arne, Ernesto — you know what to do if either of Monday's matches are draws.