RB LEIPZIG 0-5 LIVERPOOL: Uruguay international Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score his first four Reds goals against Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig on Thursday evening
Liverpool picked up their second victory of pre-season on Thursday as they defeated RB Leipzig 5-0 in Germany.
Mohamed Salah's early strike got the Reds off to a great start, but they didn't have a firm grasp on the game until Darwin Nunez was introduced at half-time. Jurgen Klopp's prolific new striker scored four goals to comprehensively settle the friendly.
It's Liverpool's second successive win following their 2-0 triumph against Crystal Palace in Singapore last Friday. The Reds suffered a shock 4-0 defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United in their opening game of pre-season in Bangkok earlier this month. Here are the main talking points from a fascinating evening at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.
Reds fans would've been hoping for a victory against Leipzig... but not expecting. The Bundesliga outfit won the DFB-Pokal last season - defeating Freiburg on penalties in the final - and are used to beating teams of Liverpool's calibre in the Champions League.
Yet Klopp's side put their fans at ease with a blistering start in the soaring German heat. In the eighth minute, Liverpool pressed Leipzig into a defensive error and Salah found himself in the box in acres of space. He coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
There were no more goals during the first half, a fact that would've pleased Klopp. Leipzig came close to equalising a couple of times with former Manchester City defender Angelino unleashing a wicked effort and prolific striker Christopher Nkunku testing Adrian.
The latter chance was particularly concerning for Klopp. Ibrahima Konate awkwardly tried to control a loose ball and it ricocheted off his feet into the path of Nkunku. It was a sloppy end to a disappointing first half for the Reds, who failed to build on Salah's early goal.
Keita wastes chance
Liverpool's third-choice stopper Adrian started against Leipzig as fans wondered where Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher were. Both are currently nursing injuries - Alisson is struggling with an abdominal issue and Kelleher suffered a knock on international duty last month.
Adrian did well when called on, producing that impressive save to deny Nkunku in the first half. Nevertheless, Klopp will be hoping Allison and Kelleher - or at least one of them - will will be fit for the Community Shield against rivals Man City in just nine days' time.
Speaking of goalkeepers, former Liverpool star Peter Gulacsi was between the sticks for Leipzig as their skipper. He never made a senior appearance for the Reds between 2008 and 2013, spending time on loan at Hereford, Tranmere and Hull in the EFL.
Nunez opens account
It was sloppy defending, in truth, and Blaswich had no choice but to bring Luis Diaz down. That gave Nunez the chance to score his first Liverpool goal... an opportunity he was never going to waste. The £85million man hammered the ball past Blaswich to make it 2-0.
Yet it was Nunez's second goal that caught the eye. In the 51st minute, Trent Alexander Arnold fed the Uruguayan and he confidently slotted the ball into the bottom corner. It was the perfect finish from a striker who looks ready to take the Premier League by storm.
And Nunez wasn't finished there. Moments later, he got on the end of a low cross from Harvey Elliott to settle the game... and there was still time for him to make it 5-0. Get very excited for the new season, Liverpool fans - you've got a new hero to adore.
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