Darwin Nunez has arrived at Anfield with massive expectations.
Liverpool rarely splash out massive fees on one player, meaning the deal worth up to £85million to sign him from Benfica realised quite a few eyebrows. Clearly, the club expect him to be able to contribute right away.
While his only appearances thus far have come in 30 minute cameos during pre-season friendlies against Manchester United and Crystal Palace, he did not catch the eye in a positive sense. These may have been meaningless fixtures early in the summer, but the striker looked well off the pace.
Luis Garcia says Darwin Nunez must work harder
Nothing can be taken from that at this stage, although Luis Garcia says that Darwin Nunez will need to work harder now that has moved to Merseyside.
Speaking to ESPN, the Champions League winner warned that the way the 23-year old had grown accustomed to playing at Benfica will not be good enough at Liverpool.
No, not at all. What I have realised is that he is going to have to work harder.
Liverpool play in a different way to Benfica. He is a player who is very clever; his football intelligence is fantastic. But he has to track back, he has to press.
In the two games against Manchester United and Crystal Palace he has struggled.
He wants to show that he is going to be ready to play, with the press, with that high pressure that Klopp does with Liverpool.
But after three or four runs he was tired. He had a few chances, but I think it was because he was tired.
He only had three [training] sessions, then into the game with Manchester United. He had ten sessions then faced Crystal Palace, but only played 30 minutes.
I think this player with his movements, the way that he plays will give [Liverpool] a lot. But they need to wait. He needs to be physically ready to play at the intensity that Liverpool plays with.
It is highly likely that Darwin Nunez will look far more comfortable in Liverpool's system once the season gets underway, with the forward having a big task on his hands to fill the shoes of the recently departed Sadio Mane.
His signing was a long-term move by the club, but they will also be hoping to get some immediate return for their rather sizeable investment.
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