Mohamed Salah left with egg on his face after denying Cody Gakpo hat-trick chance

Liverpool rounded off pre-season with a productive evening against Spanish side Athletic Bilbao but it wasn’t all positive for forward Mohamed Salah despite finding the net for Arne Slot’s side

Mohamed Salah robbed Cody Gakpo the chance of a hat-trick with a woeful penalty at Anfield. The Egyptian forward started in Liverpool’s pre-season clash against Athletic Bilbao on Monday.

It was the second time that the Reds had taken on the Spanish side at Anfield. They had already secured a 4-1 win earlier in the day – Rio Ngumoha, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott all finding the net for Arne Slot’s side.

Salah then got Liverpool off to the perfect start in their second match after firing home Hugo Ekitike’s cross. Oihan Sancet equalised for Bilbao, only for Gakpo to restore Liverpool’s lead.

The Dutchman remained at the heart of things after scoring an own goal but he scored once again in the right end to rack up a brace. He then had a golden chance to secure an eye-catching pre-season hat-trick as Liverpool were awarded an 80th-minute penalty.

But instead of Gakpo, Salah was the man to step up. While he is usually reliable from the spot, the Egyptian blazed the ball high over the crossbar.

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Salah could afford himself a wry smile after the miss but will certainly hope to re-find his aim as Liverpool return to action next weekend. The Reds take on FA Cup holders Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley next weekend before their Premier League opener against Bournemouth in just under a fortnight’s time.

Gakpo in the meantime will be hoping to continue his hot form. Speaking ahead of his latest appearance, he said: “It was my best return so far [last season] but me as a player and as a person I always strive to do better and do more.

“Hopefully this year is going to be a better one. I am just trying to get more goals and more assists.

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“It was an ankle injury and it was difficult and I tried to come back as quickly as possible because we had some important games but unfortunately I had a setback again in training and then it took longer to get into the rhythm again and get confidence when you are in duels or shooting on target with the ankle and you are maybe not as confident at that time.

“So that was not nice for the rhythm where I was before but this is also a part of football and you have to overcome it, so I think the last games of the season went better for my ankle, I didn’t feel it as much before. So I think now we just have to start the season fit and move.”

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