This time last year, supporters were preparing for their first sight of Darwin Nunez in action as a Liverpool player.
The Uruguayan had prompted fervent expectation having completed a £64million move from Benfica that could eventually see him become the most expensive player in Reds history at £85m.
It started well enough with a goal on his debut in the Community Shield win over Manchester City and a strike and assist on his Premier League bow at Fulham.
But a red card on Nunez's first Anfield appearance the following week signposted an at times difficult debut campaign which ended with an injury that ruled him out of the final three games and prevented him improving on his respectable return of 15 goals in 42 appearances.
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Now, though, more will be demanded of the 24-year-old with his acclimatisation period now over. And ECHO writers have had their say on how Liverpool can extract the best from Nunez and what the player should be providing Jurgen Klopp's side...
'He should be refreshed and reinvigorated for what is to come'
Ian Doyle: Few could argue there has been an enormous sense of goodwill towards Darwin Nunez from the Liverpool fanbase ever since his arrival last summer. Not uncommon last term were huge chants of the Uruguayan's name even when he did something as trivial as press an opposing defender or block an attempted clearance.
The supporters want him to succeed. Jurgen Klopp wants him to succeed. And, of course, Nunez himself wants to succeed. Which is what makes this campaign pivotal, a time for the forward - who has notably been brushing up on his English this summer - to start regularly delivering on his undoubted potential.
In some ways, the January arrival of Cody Gakpo was both a help and a hindrance for Nunez. The weight of expectation was instead placed on the shoulders of a team-mate, but that Gakpo responded swiftly in a positive manner further highlighted Nunez's own travails and, ultimately, shunted him out of the central striking role on to the left flank with the Dutchman preferred as a more traditional - at least in terms of this Klopp side - false number nine.
With both Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota returning to fitness in the closing months of last season, Nunez started only three of Liverpool's 11-game unbeaten run that ended the season. At least he should be refreshed and reinvigorated for what is to come.
Rotation will mean Nunez is given plentiful opportunity, even if it is, at least initially, more likely to be on the left than down the middle. But he will know what is now expected. After 15 goals in a tough season, 20 must now be the target.
'Price tag might be an issue but potential is obvious'
Paul Gorst: The only real concern for Nunez this season is the price tag on his head following his move from Benfica.
At an initial £64m, only Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker have cost the Reds more than the Uruguay international and he will become an £85m, club-record signing should his £21m worth of add-ons be achieved. There will be little mention of the price if that is to be the case, at least.
With Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz all costing around £20-25m less than Nunez, the No.27 will inevitably become a talking point from outside the club if he is not starting regularly or is used in rotation alongside the rest of the forward line.
That in itself is no major issue inside the club, with Klopp set to use a horses-for-courses approach for next season, but not starting games will inevitably cause some discourse around the size of his fee which, admittedly, had nothing to do with the South American when he moved from Portugal.
That being said, he is a unique option for Klopp up top with his blistering pace, shoot-on-sight policy and the fact that he always seems to find himself with a chance or two whenever he plays. Smoothen the rough edges, sharpen the shooting and tighten the loose touches and Liverpool have a top-class striker on their hands.
Fifteen goals in his debut season in a generally struggling side is enough to suggest there is a lot more to come. It will be fascinating to watch his development further this coming season.
'The £85m striker has to start playing like one'
Theo Squires: Prior to the March international break, we'd have been saying how impressive a debut season Darwin Nunez enjoyed at Anfield despite Liverpool's struggles.
Yet having spent most of the last two months of the campaign on the bench or injured on the sidelines, with the returning Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz both preferred in attack, the Uruguayan's up and down debut season ended with a whimper.
He still scored 15 goals, of course, and established himself as a firm fan-favourite with Kopites adoring the striker's attitude and work-rate. But with Liverpool looking that much better as side once he dropped out, with summer signing Cody Gakpo taking his place down the middle, Nunez very much has to push on this season.
Jurgen Klopp repeatedly bemoaned the striker's limited grasp of English. At least he seems to have taken measures to improve that over the summer break! If he can show an extra calmness in front of goal, he is well placed to explode into life, much like he did in his second season at Benfica.
Yet despite that potential to be a club-record £85m signing, you'd argue Nunez heads into the new season not even first choice for Liverpool. After all, Gakpo is very much the preferred central option. The Uruguayan will still get opportunities of course, with the Europa League a good platform, but he needs to grab his chances when he gets them.
It would also aid the forward if he could nail down a position, be it in his preferred central role or adapt fully to life on the left flank. You'd argue that he is very much a striker, but he needs to perform sufficiently on the pitch to make that position his own.
Going into the campaign as a rotational option, a good season for Nunez would see him nearing the 20-goal mark as he takes another step in the right direction while proving he is more than just a chaotic back-up.
