David Lynch’s 5 Key Takeaways from Liverpool’s Double-Header Wins Against Athletic Club | OneFootball

Early Signs Point to Another Dominant Season Under Slot

Liverpool’s double win over Athletic Club at Anfield, finishing 4-1 and 3-2 respectively, delivered more than just pre-season momentum. It served up a warning to rivals and confirmation that Arne Slot’s side, despite its turnover, is already humming with intent. As captured in David Lynch’s post-match comments from Anfield, the atmosphere, performances and individual showings tell a story of a side already looking sharp and cohesive.

Here are Lynch’s five standout takeaways from the two matches, featuring insights and quotes that cut straight to the heart of Liverpool’s evolving strengths and one area of lingering concern.

Photo: IMAGO

1. Youth Ready to Step In and Step Up

Lynch singled out Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni as the revelations of the first game. “Enamoa again, the speed with which he did what he did today in terms of getting a goal and assist so quickly in the game, it’s just ridiculous,” he said. The 16-year-old’s comparison with Raheem Sterling wasn’t made lightly, with Lynch adding, “He already seems like he’s a better striker of the ball than Raheem Sterling.”

Beyond the highlights, Ngumoha’s subtle moments caught the eye. “The deftness of his assist, the intelligence to just nod it down knowing that Nunes would be there as a number nine… very, very impressive.”

Nyoni, meanwhile, impressed in an unfamiliar role. “The competition in midfield is a little bit stiffer, but if you do things like he did today in terms of showcasing versatility… that speaks highly.” The young midfielder was asked to slot into centre-half and managed to adapt under pressure. “He’s almost Virgil van Dijk-like in terms of how he holds his position between the two players,” Lynch noted, praising his defensive intelligence.

2. Cody Gakpo: From Underrated to Undroppable?

Cody Gakpo’s brace in the second match wasn’t just a boost for the stat sheet, it underlined his growing importance. “I just think Cody Gakpo is a very important player for Liverpool,” Lynch said. With Luis Díaz now at Bayern, the left side is Gakpo’s to own.

“He’s strong, he’s tall, he adds height to the team,” Lynch observed, highlighting Gakpo’s physical presence as crucial during set-pieces and his constant availability “on the far side for the switch that got Liverpool in behind.”

Lynch sees 2025 as Gakpo’s breakthrough campaign. “He was good last season, but he can maybe be a little bit better. He’s 26 years of age now… coming into those prime years.”

Photo: IMAGO

3. Midfield Dilemma Shows Strength in Depth

Slot has a genuine selection headache brewing. Ryan Gravenberch’s performance in the second game forced Lynch to ask, “How can you possibly leave him out?” Gravenberch posted standout stats: 90% pass accuracy, 3 out of 3 successful dribbles and strong duel numbers.

“He’s so athletic… he can break lines with his dribbling and ball-carrying skills,” Lynch noted. While competition is stiff, with Wirtz, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones all in contention, Gravenberch “proved today that he’s going to be absolutely massive again for Liverpool.”

This is no longer a midfield looking to find its feet. It’s packed with quality, competition and balance.

4. Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike Catch Fire

While the spotlight has often been on newer names this summer, Lynch took time to acknowledge the sheer quality of Wirtz and the fan impact of Hugo Ekitike.

“Florian Wirtz, his class… his touches, his ability, so clear that he’s going to be a big player for Liverpool,” Lynch said plainly. Wirtz has already shown he can operate seamlessly within Slot’s system.

Ekitike’s connection with the fans hasn’t gone unnoticed. “The way he geed up the crowd… the work rate… they were singing his name already.” Lynch noted the chant, “Hugo, Hugo”, as evidence the Anfield faithful are already taking to him. “That’s a really really good sign for him very, very early into his Liverpool career.”

5. Defensive Depth: The Only Blot on the Day

Lynch was clear-eyed about Liverpool’s one glaring issue: centre-back depth. “Of course, four centre-back spots up for grabs across two games and Ibrahima Konaté is the only centre-back by trade who plays.”

Van Dijk’s absence was due to illness, but Lynch underlined the concern. “You get one more injury there… all of a sudden you’re starting midfielders there. You don’t so much mind that in the early rounds of the League Cup, but you do not want it in a Premier League or Champions League game.”

Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi remains a target, but nothing is finalised. “That is still ongoing, but it’s clearly a must, isn’t it, for Liverpool to add in that position and I think today really did kind of underline that.”

Outlook: Ready for the Title Defence

Across both matches, Liverpool scored seven goals, dazzled in spells and rotated across youth and senior players without losing rhythm. “They just look so slick,” Lynch said of the football on display. “It’s testament to the fact they’ve had a full preseason together.”

The squad overhaul hasn’t slowed momentum. In fact, Lynch believes Slot’s track record with turnover, especially at Feyenoord, bodes well. “His teams were always strong, always competitive… and it is pretty handy that some of the players he signed here are undeniably world-class.”

He wrapped up with an ominous warning for rivals: “He may even have made this team stronger, which is a frightening thought.”

From Anfield’s energy to tactical clarity and youth emergence, Liverpool look sharp, focused and dangerous. Both matches against Athletic Club offered evidence that Arne Slot’s side might be picking up right where they left off, if not better.