Arne Slot Commends Ekitike And Ngumoha Following Liverpool's Pre-Season Success Against Bilbao

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Arne Slot praised Hugo Ekitike and Rio Ngumoha for their impressive performances in Liverpool's pre-season matches against Athletic Bilbao. The Reds secured victories in both games, winning 4-1 and 3-2. Sixteen-year-old Ngumoha shone in the first match, scoring a remarkable solo goal and assisting Darwin Nunez within the first five minutes. Harvey Elliott added to the scoreline after an own-goal by Alex Padilla, while Gorka Guruzeta netted a late consolation for Bilbao.

In the second match, Slot fielded a stronger lineup, featuring home debuts for Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Giorgi Mamardashvili. Ekitike quickly made his mark by assisting Mohamed Salah's opening goal after 11 minutes. However, Oihan Sancet equalised for the visitors before halftime. Cody Gakpo had an eventful second half, scoring twice around an own-goal from himself, while Salah missed a late penalty.

Slot expressed satisfaction with Liverpool's overall performance across both matches as they prepare for their Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace next weekend. "In both games, we created a lot of chances. We scored seven goals and that is very pleasing to see," he told LFCTV. "That pleased me most, the ability to create chances."

The manager acknowledged areas needing improvement, particularly conceding two set-piece goals. "Conceding two set-piece goals is not what you want, especially when you face Crystal Palace next week. It is something to work on," Slot noted.

Ekitike reflected on his Anfield debut after playing 57 minutes: "I enjoyed it a lot. It was such a good atmosphere. I feel proud, and I just wish to play so many games in this stadium because it is amazing." He expressed eagerness to build connections with teammates and optimism about the upcoming season.

Looking Forward

"It was important to play with confidence, but the real season starts on Sunday," Ekitike stated. "We are looking forward to it. We are going to give 100%. I am here to win." As Liverpool gears up for their competitive fixtures, players like Ekitike and Ngumoha are expected to contribute significantly.