Darwin Nunez sends timely reminder as Liverpool consider transfer options

It didn’t take long. Mere minutes after it emerged Darwin Nunez had scored a first-half hat-trick in Liverpool’s 5-0 behind-closed-doors friendly win against Stoke City on Sunday afternoon, the striker had earned himself a new nickname.

“He’s like a Reverse Samson!” quipped more than one supporter, a reference to the Biblical figure who derived powerful strength from his long hair.

Nunez, of course, has been sporting a new look since arriving back for pre-season training having taken the decision in the summer to shave off his trademark lengthy locks for a more manageable buzzcut.

And there can be no argument he has hit the ground running during the early days of the warm-up programme, scoring within minutes of being introduced for the second half in last Sunday’s 3-1 win at Championship side Preston North End, and taking only 20 minutes to register his treble at the AXA Training Centre at the weekend.

But, as has so often been the case for Nunez as a Liverpool player, matters are rarely straightforward. And the context of both the player and club sheds a different light on his situation.

In terms of scrapping for his place as the number nine this season, Nunez could not be doing much more during the opening weeks.