First Liverpool team vs Athletic Club confirmed as Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister start

Liverpool has confirmed its starting XI for the first game of the day at Anfield against Athletic Club. Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister both start, with the second line-up likely to be the strongest.

Freddie Woodman is in goal, with a back four of Luca Stephenson, Curtis Jones, Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas. Harvey Elliott, Trey Nyoni and Mac Allister are in midfield, with Ben Doak, Nunez and Rio Ngumoha in attack.

"Our tour of Asia was a good one, with a lot of hard work on the training pitches," Slot wrote in his matchday program notes. "Pre-season is about getting fit and keeping fit, and although we had a couple of small issues during our 10 days away, the majority of our players returned healthy and in a good shape as we count down to the new season.

"Pre-season is also about integrating new players, and I think the way our new signings have settled into the group so far has been really good.

"I know you will all welcome Jeremie [Frimpong], Florian [Wirtz], Hugo [Ekitike], Giorgi [Mamardashvili], Armin [Pecsi], Freddie [Woodman] and Milos [Kerkez] to the club with open arms, and I think they have already felt a little bit of how big and how special Liverpool is. That feeling will only grow, the longer they are here.

"For now, I am looking forward to being back at home, back on familiar soil. The hard work continues."

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Liverpool will return to playing at Anfield for the first time since Diogo Jota's tragic death last month. The former No. 20 died alongside his brother in a car crash in Spain, sending shockwaves throughout the sporting world.

The Reds retired his squad number and fans have regularly paid tribute to Jota at Anfield immediately following his passing, and during Liverpool's earlier pre-season game against Preston North End. Fans will now get to pay tribute to Jota at home as their team prepares to defend its Premier League crown, starting later this month.

"I know that you will want to pay your tributes before, during and after the games, and I know that we will hear his song ringing out throughout the evening," Slot said as he sent a message to Liverpool's fans.

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“It has been a tough time for everyone connected with the club, but especially for Diogo’s family, his wife, his children and friends.

“We cannot imagine the pain that they have been going through, and the club will continue to give them all the support they can going forward. We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go.

“Diogo’s passing has had a big impact on us all, but what has been so important has been the love and care shown from the football world, and in particular of course the Liverpool FC community.

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“At Anfield, at the AXA Training Centre, at Preston North End and on our recent tour of Hong Kong and Japan, we really felt what Diogo meant to everyone, and how together our fans are.

“I want to mention the strength and the courage of my players here, too. They have found themselves in one of the toughest positions imaginable.

"But the way they have come together and the way they have conducted themselves, on and off the pitch, is a credit to them and to this football club. We really couldn’t have asked more of the boys, and I am extremely proud of them all."

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