Darwin Nunez enjoys 'perfect night' with four goals for Liverpool - in pictures

Uruguayan striker earns praise from manager and teammate following star turn in win at Red Bull Arena

Darwin Nunez scores Liverpool's second goal from the penalty spot in their friendly win over RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena, on Thursday July 21, 2022. Reuters

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez celebrates after completing his hat-trick. AFP

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. PA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal with Roberto Firmino and Thiago Alcantara. Reuters

Liverpool's Luis Diazunder pressure from Willi Orban of RB Leipzig. AFP

Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah. PA

Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Getty

Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz. Reuters

Leipzig's Dominik Szoboszlai and Thiago Alcantara of Liverpool fight for the ball. PA

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez celebrates with Trent Alexander-Arnold after scoring. EPA

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp complains to the linesman. AFP

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho. Getty

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez celebrates after scoring against RB Leipzig. EPA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates with Roberto Firmino. EPOA

Darwin Nunez scores Liverpool's fourth goal to complete his hat-trick. Reuters

Mohamed Salah celebrates with Roberto Firmino after scoring Liverpool's first goal. Getty

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold under pressure from Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku. AFP

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring with Jordan Henderson. AFP

Marcel Halstenberg of RB Leipzig pulls the shirt of Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah. Getty

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp. EPA

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for new signing Darwin Nunez after what he described as a "perfect night" for the €75 million Uruguay striker against RB Leipzig.

Nunez, 23, scored four of Liverpool's five goals in a thumping 5-0 pre-season win over the German side at the Red Bull Arena.

After Egyptian Mohamed Salah had given the Merseyside club the lead in the eighth minute, Nunez came off the bench after the break and took over penalty duties, making no mistake from the spot to open his account.

The former Benfica striker doubled his tally from distance and completed a quick-fire hat-trick by poking home from close range following a cross from Harvey Elliott before adding a fourth from a brilliant counter-attack.

Klopp praised his new recruit for showing a cool head, particularly from the penalty spot, and believes scoring his first goals in a Liverpool shirt since joining last month will be a weight off Nunez's shoulders.

"Mo gives Darwin the penalty and Darwin, Pandora's box was open," Klopp told liverpoolfc.com. "That's of course a perfect night for him.

"We always think that if you pay a lot of money then the players feel no pressure or whatever.

"They are all completely normal human beings and the first touch is not perfect then all of a sudden ... This generation of players read social media, which is really not smart, but they do.

"All of a sudden you get in a rush and these kinds of things. That's the best way obviously to stop all these discussions."

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Liverpool defender Joel Matip was equally effusive in his praise of Nunez, adding that his new teammate will prove a handful for Premier League defences this season.

"I think everybody is really happy for him and was looking for him [in the dressing room]," Matip told reporters.

"Great finish, great speed and the body he always puts in - I think it will be really difficult for opponents."

Liverpool head to Austria for a week-long training camp as they step up preparations for the new Premier League season.

The Reds begin their campaign with a trip Fulham on August 6.