Athletic Club visited Anfield on Monday as part of their pre-season preparations, but got away with their moral dented and not because of their double density. Los Leones will be without three players after they have taken injuries on Merseyside.
Liverpool won the first meeting between the two in a double header with 4-1, with Gorka Guruzeta on the score sheet. That was a largely second string line-up for both Ernesto Valverde and Arne Slot, while the second game contained more starters. That was 3-2 victory for the hosts, where Cody Gakpo scored three times, but once for Athletic, and Oihan Sancet also on the score sheet.
Sancet, however, did not end the competition and came off with a knee ligament problem. There was a breath of relief when it happened that it was the lateral ligament and not the cross, but Sancet will still be out for a month of action, according to Diario ALS. That will at least look him from their opening of three games against Sevilla (H), Rayo Vallecano (H) and Real Betis (A).
Promising central defender Unai Egiluz came from the back of an Imperious campaign for Mirandes on loan and was really hopeful to be part of the rotation for Valverde this season. Egiluz, 23, however, a cross union ran up and will now miss the rest of the season, as confirmed by Athletic – a crushing blow to the Leasama product.
Veteran left back Yuri Berchiche, who is no stranger to injuries, was also forced, but no injury has been detected in more positive news. Likewise for Benat Prados he has a Dijstam, but like the Center-Back Aitor Paredes, which is also injured, is expected to be fit for their season opener on August 17.