Darwin Nunez reportedly scores a first-half hat-trick as Liverpool thump Stoke City 5-0 in a behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly.
Darwin Nunez reportedly scored a first-half hat-trick as Liverpool defeated Stoke City 5-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Sunday.
The Uruguay international was on target in the Reds’ first pre-season match last weekend, a 3-1 triumph over Preston North End at Deepdale, and continued his scintillating start to the summer on Sunday.
According to journalist James Pearce, Nunez – who continues to be heavily linked with a departure – struck three times inside the first 45 minutes of the clash with the Potters, which was held at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre.
Talented teenager Rio Ngumoha supposedly found the back of the net too, as Arne Slot‘s men took a 4-0 lead in the opening 45 minutes, which new signing Florian Wirtz also played.
Federico Chiesa then made the scoreline more emphatic as Liverpool ran out comfortable victors, making it two for two in pre-season before they fly out to Asia for their pre-season tour.
The Reds next meet AC Milan in Hong Kong on July 26, four days before meeting Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, and the Premier League champions then conclude their pre-season with a double-header against Athletic Bilbao on August 4.
Liverpool transfer latest: Could Nunez still stay at Anfield this summer?
Nunez has rediscovered his goalscoring touch at a time when Liverpool are closing in on the signing of a new number nine; a deal has reportedly been agreed for Eintracht Frankfurt talisman Hugo Ekitike.
The Frenchman has said yes to a six-year contract at Anfield and will join for an initial fee of €80m (£69.3m), which could potentially reach €95m (£82.3m) if all performance-related add-ons are hit.
At the same time, Nunez has seen a proposed move to Napoli fall through due to the finances involved, and his exceptional pre-season form may inevitably lead to suggestions that he could reignite his Reds career.
However, with Ekitike almost certain to become Liverpool’s first-choice number nine straight away next season, Nunez is still expected to depart amid links with both Saudi Arabia and Serie A.
Journalist Gary Jacob – via AnfieldEdition – reports that AC Milan and Al-Hilal are showing a serious interest in the former Benfica man, who saw a proposed switch to the Middle East blocked during the January transfer window.
Liverpool were not prepared to let Nunez leave midway through the campaign without a replacement lined up, but the English champions are happy to sell their former record signing for the right price in the current window.
The 26-year-old has managed 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 competitive games for Liverpool, but he only struck five Premier League goals in the 2024-25 campaign.
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