RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool result: Darwin Nunez bags four goals in 5-0 thrashing

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Darwin Nunez

Darwin Nunez's four second-half goals propelled Liverpool to a dominant 5-0 preseason win away at Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig.

Mo Salah's early strike rewarded a positive start for Jurgen Klopp's side at the Red Bull Arena as they gear up for the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

Despite the hosts showing some signs of life either side of the restart, substitute Nunez ran riot in the second 45 minutes to silence his recent doubters.

A powerful penalty was followed up by two composed finishes inside the box before the former Benfica hitman ruthlessly buried Fabio Carvalho's pass to round out his four-goal haul.

Nunez repays Klopp's faith in spectacular style

Klopp has offered short and sharp responses when questioned about both Liverpool and Nunez's preseason form in recent weeks.

The Liverpool manager was unconcerned by their loss to Manchester United, and he rubbished criticism of Nunez, following a few high-profile misses against the Red Devils.

Nunez's confidence never looked in danger of dipping, with Klopp hailing his ability to ignore the noise, in a praise-filled post-match interview.

Expectation management in preseason is vital, but the assured nature of Nunez's four goals will have Liverpool fans salivating for his Premier League bow, and Klopp is prepared to throw him into the deep end of English football next month.

Salah looks back in the groove ahead of 2022/23

Salah has history in his sights in 2022/23 after signing a new contract at Anfield on the back of another 20+ goal season in 2021/22.

The Egyptian is currently third on Liverpool's Premier League scorers list on 118, behind Steven Gerrard (120) and Robbie Fowler (128), and he could overtake both players before the World Cup break.

His contract extension should provide a renewed focus for the 30-year-old after a dip in form in the final weeks of last season.

Two goals in preseason shows a determination to hit the ground running, alongside Nunez, and an extended summer break, plus a rest during the World Cup, could set him up for a return to his trademark consistency in the months that will follow.

Carvalho set for Premier League fast track

The arrival of Nunez is expected to reduce the blow of Sadio Mane's exit with Luis Diaz tipped to fill the remaining attacking slot for Klopp.

Diogo Jota's injury concerns, and Roberto Firmino's reduced role, cleared the path for the Colombian (below) following his January move to Merseyside.

Luis Diaz laments a missed chance in the FA Cup final

However, a lacklustre return in preseason has placed the former Porto winger under pressure, and newcomer Fabio Carvalho looks ready to take advantage and jump into Premier League football.

Klopp has already shown a bravery when it comes to playing young players, including Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, and Carvalho's seamless preseason start could open the door for a fast track into the starting XI.

With adaptability to play wide in a front three, or in a Philippe Coutinho-style No.10 role, the former Fulham man offers Klopp a line-breaking option, if Diaz needs a break.

RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool final score

  1H 2H Final
RB Leipzig 0 0 0
Liverpool 1 4 5

Goals: 
LIV — Mohamed Salah (Roberto Firmino) — 10th min.
LIV — Darwin Nunez (penalty) — 49th min.
LIV — Darwin Nunez (Trent Alexander-Arnold) — 52nd min.
LIV — Darwin Nunez (Harvey Elliott) — 68th min.
LIV — Darwin Nunez (Fabio Carvalho) — 90th min.

RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool as-it-happened at the Red Bull Arena

Full-time: RB Leipzig 0 Liverpool 5

The Darwin Nunez show inspired Liverpool to a dominant 5-0 preseason win in Germany!!

Mo Salah's calm finish got the ball rolling for the visitors before the break but the second period was DOMINATED by Nunez.

The Uruguayan has come in for criticism in recent weeks, but he netted FOUR goals in 45 minutes, to answer his preseason critics and send a message to Premier League defences ahead of the new campaign.

90th min.: 4-0 TO NUNEZ!!! 5-0 TO LIVERPOOL!!!!

An INCREDIBLE 45 minutes for Liverpool's new man in attack!!

Carvalho with a driving run from deep cuts through the retreating Leipzig defence and Nunez glides on to force home past Blaswich!

84th min.: Nunez is hungry for more himself as Blaswich reacts instantly to deny him from Milner's cross.

80th min.: Klopp is encouraging his young stars to keep pressing as we head into the final 10 minutes. A ruthless second half showing from the Premier League side.

75th min.: Liverpool are still pushing here as Carvalho feeds in Curtis Jones and the visitors force a corner.

68th min.: HAT TRICK FROM NUNEZ!!!!

What an IMPACT!!!!

Nunez has turned preseason concern over his finishing into nonsense since his halftime introduction!!

Neat buildup play pulls the Leipzig back line out of position, substitute Harvey Elliott darts in behind, and his cut back is prodded home by Nunez!!

64th min.: More changes for Klopp as Fabio Carvalho and James Milner come on, as part of six pre-planned substitutions, with Salah and Diaz among those heading off

60th min.: Five changes for the hosts for the final stages, while Harvey Davies replaces Adrian for a taste of preseason action.

58th min.: RB Leipzig look absolutely shell-shocked by Nunez's demolition job as Liverpool appear to have already killed the contest off.

52nd min.: AND AGAIN FROM NUNEZ!!!!

His 'goal drought' is over!!! Alexander-Arnold pinches possession and feeds in the Uruguayan to smash home his second goal inside three minutes!!!

49th min.: 2-0 LIVERPOOL!!! NUNEZ NETS HIS FIRST REDS GOAL!!!

Diaz is clattered by substitute goalkeeper Janis Blaswich and Darwin Nunez grabs his chance for his first Liverpool goal as his penalty sneaks in.

46th min.: WE ARE BACK!!!

Four changes for Liverpool as Darwin Nunez, Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson and Kostas Tsimikas come on for Robertson, Konate, Keita and Firmino.

Halftime: RB Leipzig 0 Liverpool 1

Liverpool have the advantage at the break after a fast start in Leipzig. 

Salah's calm finish handed Klopp's side a deserved early breakthrough, but they have failed to turn that pressure into a second goal, with Nkunku and Szoboszlai posing a real threat to the Reds on the counter attack.

45th min.: Chances at both ends before the break, as Salah is crowded out by the Leipzig defence, before Konate's error gives Nkunku a chance from close range, but Adrian makes a key save.

40th min.:Almost a bolt from the blue by Leipzig as Luis Diaz loses possession. Dominik Szoboszlai capitalises and looks to get a shot away, but Robertson tracks back to deny him.

The Hungarian then switches play to Angelino and the former Manchester City wing back swerves one just over Adrian's crossbar.

35th min.: A first-half change for the hosts, as the injured Sortloth comes off, with Portuguese international Andre Silva on. 

More frustration for Liverpool as Andy Robertson forces a corner and Thiago's effort flies well over the bar!!

30th min.: Important defending from Alexander-Arnold to eat up the ground and prevent Nkunku from breaking clear. Liverpool still full of energy, but no second goal for the visitors.

23rd min.: Salah is at the heart of everything for Liverpool so far. Trent Alexander-Arnold's clever pass sends him away but Willi Orban gets back to cut out a pass to Firmino.

16th min.: RB Leipzig are beginning to edge their way into the game as Alexander Sorloth's header is mopped up by the Liverpool backline.

12th min.: Liverpool are attacking in waves after that breakthrough. Salah skips past two challenges but his snapshot is held by Gulasci.

10th min.: GOALLLLLLLLL LIVERPOOL LEAD 1-0!!!

Salah nets his second goal of preseason to put the visitors in front!!

RB Leipzig make a mess of playing out from the back, Salah quickly exchanges passes with Firmino, and the Egyptian calmly slots past Gulasci.

5th min.: Liverpool looking bright in the opening stages, as Mo Salah tries to burst in behind the hosts defence, but his pass to Roberto Firmino is cleared.

KICKOFF: WE ARE UNDERWAY AT THE RED BULL ARENA!!!

Following a pre-game applause for German footballing legend Uwe Seeler, who passed away earlier today, the action begins!

5 Mins to KO: Klopp is hoping for a real test in Leipzig

"It must be a high intense game because Leipzig requires that. We are getting closer to the decisive parts of our preparation, that's how it is. I am looking forward to some time in Austria where we can train twice a day.

"You want to create difficult situations in pre-season and it's hot, a sold out stadium and an extremely good opponent, so what more do you want? I want a lot of information to work with, and it might be good or bad. First and foremost, I want to recognise us not just from the shirts, but how we play.

"A few will play 60 minutes, some will have 30, and some will have 45, that's how it is. We have to make the step forward as well, so we start with Naby and Ibou, and against their old, it's 'Naby's game'."

10 Mins to KO: A warm welcome for Keita and Ibrahima Konate back at the Red Bull Arena tonight!!

Keita made 71 appearances for RB Leipzig, between 2016 and 2018, after joining from RB Salzburg, with French international Konate racking up 95 appearances before heading to Anfield last summer.

15 Mins to KO: Klopp has updated Liverpool fans on his preseason plans ahead of the 2022/23 campaign with Naby Keita excited to face his old side.

45 Mins to KO: Former Liverpool keeper Peter Gulasci starts against his former side, with Dani Olmo and Christopher Nkunku both included by Tedesco from the off!!

1 Hr 15 Mins to KO: TEAM NEWS IS IN!!

Seven changes for Klopp as he recalls the big guns in Germany with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho and Mo Salah all starting!!!

1 Hr 30 Mins to KO: Liverpool and Klopp have enjoyed a clean sweep in their previous meetings with RB Leipzig. Klopp had departed from Borussia Dortmund prior to the hosts top-flight promotion in 2016.

The Reds won 2-0 home and away against the Bundesliga side in the 2020/21 Champions League last 16 with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane on target in both games.

1 Hr 45 Mins to KO: The scene is all set at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig as Liverpool take on their Bundesliga hosts.

2 Hours to KO: Welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the Reds' third preseason outing. Jurgen Klopp has reshuffled his squad for Liverpool's games in Germany and Austria as he looks to balance his options this month.

Jurgen Klopp smiles during Liverpool training at the State de France

RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool lineups

Tedesco has opted for a strong line up tonight with star duo Christopher Nkunku and Dani Olmo both back in the starting line up.

RB Leipzig XI (4-1-3-2): Gulasci — Halstenberg, Orban, Simakan — Kampl — Angelino, Olmo, Nkunku, Henrichs — Szoboszlai, Sorloth.

RB Leipzig Substitutes (12): Blaswich, Nickisch, Schlieck, Haidara, Forsberg, Klostermann, Silva, Mukiele, Schlager, Ba, Laimer, Novoa.

Klopp has looked to ease his key men back into action in recent weeks, and he is boosted by the return of first-choice centre back Virgil van Dijk and England international Trent Alexander-Arnold to the first XI.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Adrian — Robertson, van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold — Keita, Thiago, Fabinho — Diaz, Firmino, Salah.

Liverpool Substitutes (12): Hughes, Davies, Milner, Gomez, Henderson, Jones, Elliott, Tsimikas, Nunez, Carvalho, Matip, Bajcetic, Phillips, Mabaya, van den Berg, Morton.

MORE: Liverpool preseason 2022: Squad list, tour schedule, results, fixtures

Premier League 2022/23 TV channels, live streams

  UK USA Canada Australia
TV channel Sky Sports, BT Sport USA Network, Telemundo, Universo
Streaming NOW TV, Sky Go, Amazon Prime fuboTV, Peacock fuboTV Optus Sport

UK: Matches are carried across Sky Sports and BT Sport streaming and TV platforms, with select matches on Amazon Prime.

USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamed on fuboTV. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.

Canada: Every Premier League game streams live and on demand exclusively via fuboTV.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream matches live and on demand on Optus Sport

Author(s)
Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News.