The performance against Stoke follows a goal against Preston North End last weekend
Darwin Nunez made a case for a Liverpool stay after scoring a first-half hat-trick in the club’s 5-0 victory over Stoke City.
Liverpool faced Stoke in a pre-season friendly played behind closed doors at the AXA Training Centre on Sunday.
With a summer exit looking likely, the Uruguayan forward delivered a timely reminder of his value, netting three times before Arne Slot reshuffled his team at the break.
The performance against Stoke follows a goal against Preston North End last weekend and comes amid interest in Nunez from clubs both in Europe and in Saudi Arabia.
Liverpool’s academy winger Rio Ngumoha also got on the scoresheet after starting in the first half. The 17-year-old impressed while playing alongside senior figures Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz in attack.
Wirtz made his unofficial debut in the first half for the Premier League champions after completing a £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool’s other new signings Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong then featured in the second half.
Slot’s side now travel to Asia for their pre-season tour, where they will play in Hong Kong and Japan.
Liverpool have submitted a formal €80m bid to Eintracht Frankfurt for the 23-year-old Hugo Ekitike, a fee that could rise to €90m with add-ons, with the striker expected to replace Nunez. The club paid €10m more for Nunez in 2022, with the Uruguayan also 23 at the time.
