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Newcastle still insist they will be keeping hold of Alexander Isak this summer(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)

Forget that double at Brentford, Sunday's goal at Preston might end up being the most important that Darwin Nunez ever scores for Liverpool.

Following 10 days of unimaginable grief, it was the sight of grinning Nunez reeling off two of Diogo Jota's celebrations after rolling the ball home at Deepdale which brought a collective smile to Liverpool faces, and which ensured that this first step on the most difficult journey was to be passed together.

Prior to that, and as beautifully put by Arne Slot earlier on Sunday, no-one was really quite sure what was the right thing to do.



And nor is the journey through it linear, as evidenced by Nunez's tears in front of the away end after full-time.

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But Liverpool life is never going to stop, and after scoring the goal which at least tilted the balance of Anfield life in the positive direction, Nunez will now have a lot to say about the next steps towards something resembling normality.

Because while not quite in the departure lounge, the Uruguayan has been lined up near the Liverpool exit door for quite some time.

His last league start was in March, after which Slot didn't pick him from the beginning of a Premier League game again due to a payment that would be due to former club Benfica.

Darwin Nunez put smiles back on Liverpool faces at Preston(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Nunez himself has long seemed resigned to the fact that he would be leaving the Reds this summer, and when news of Napoli's interest first arose it looked to be a perfect match.

Newcastle's goalscoring king Alexander Isak is a valuable piece that the fans hope is protected at all costs, but the sudden emergence of Hugo Ekitike like a galloping knight into the Geordie frame on Monday was intriguing.

We now know that Liverpool have expressed an interest in signing Isak, with that proposal likely to be met with a firm no from Newcastle.

Ekitike is name who has been long linked to Liverpool of course, and shares startling similarities with Isak in the way he plays the No.9 role.

More exits will follow theirs, with the Luis Diaz situation not going away.

Arne Slot wants a new No.9 this summer(Image: Getty Images)

So for now it is a waiting game, with many already putting two and two together and predicting that a remarkable move for Isak could just come off.

Liverpool have made it known that they want to stay in the conversation for the Swede, whose proven Premier League goalscoring pedigree would make the champions an even scarier proposition.

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