Joel Matip has revealed the Liverpool squad were 'really happy' for Darwin Nunez following the scintillating display of the 23-year-old against RB Leipzig.
Jurgen Klopp's side were 5-0 winners over their German opponents on Thursday evening, with Nunez grabbing all the headlines courtesy of his statement performance. The Reds' summer recruit has come in for criticism from rival supporters on social media after he failed to find the net in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace and 4-0 defeat to Manchester United.
As is the case with any new signing, particularly a player who has arrived for a large transfer fee, making an instant impression is crucial to relieve the pressure that comes with a big-money move. Nunez's display has certainly reduced the outside noise regarding his summer switch and will be eager to continue scoring as the new Premier League season approaches.
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Describing how the rest of the Reds' first team reacted to the four-goal haul of the ex-Benfica star, Matip told Liverpoolfc.com : "I think everybody is really happy for him and was looking for him [in the dressing room].
"Great finish, great speed and the body he always puts in – I think it will be really difficult for our opponents. We had quite a good time there on the pitch but it was a preparation game and we try to be in the best shape we can. For this we have to train and a few days to prepare the league."
Liverpool are next in action on Wednesday against Leipzig's sister club, RB Salzburg, before concluding pre-season with the Community Shield and an Anfield meeting with Strasbourg. Another long campaign is on the horizon, though Matip is relishing the challenge of what lies ahead for Klopp's side.
"This hard work is part of the business and it's the only way how we can play our football. We need to be in the best shape because we play with a lot of intensity and for this we need to train quite hard," added the centre-back.
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