Liverpool supporters believe Darwin Nunez sent a firm message to his critics after bagging four goals against RB Leipzig.
The Reds striker recently made his first two appearances for the club following his £85million transfer from Benfica. Nunez played half an hour in the 4-0 defeat to Manchester United, and then a similar length of time in the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
However, he endured frustrating moments in both games with a miss against Manchester United catching the eye. While in the win over Palace, Nunez was denied by goalkeeper Vicente Guaita with a close-range strike.
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But against RB Leipzig on Thursday night, the forward bagged his first hat-trick for the Anfield club - and went on to notch another. The first arrived from the penalty spot before he doubled his tally just two minutes later with a fine finish. Nunez's third of the night then arrived when he turned home Harvey Elliott's low cross before he added a fourth in the final minute of normal time.
And Reds supporters watching their side in action believe their new forward sent a firm message to those who have been criticising him in recent weeks.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp leapt to the defence of his summer signing in a press conference before the win over Palace.
He said: “I am not worried at all. The general judgement is 0.0% interesting. And it will be like this, and we all know it’s a joke or a game for some people to pick out some situations where a player is not doing well.
“The only really important thing first and foremost is how I judge the situation for the player. I couldn’t be more calm about it. I am completely convinced about his potential.
“Liverpool supporters in the whole world should know now after a while that new players need time and get time, and we should be the first – all Liverpool supporters on this planet – who just delete the fee we paid. Just delete it, it’s not important.”
Klopp then added: “It is my responsibility to help Darwin that he can fulfil his full potential. And I am in it. I am in that responsibility. I’m completely calm.
“I know with strikers it is like this, he missed a chance and then we have these nerves, people out there saying ‘Oh my God, he missed a chance.’ I can promise it will not be the last, for no striker in the world. They will miss chances, that’s how it is. Having them is good. And from there we go.
“Really, with half a football brain you don’t doubt the potential of Darwin Nunez and now we have to help him that he can fulfil that as quick as possible. That’s all.”
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