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Darwin Nunez of Liverpool(Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

It didn't take long.

Mere minutes after it emerged Darwin Nunez had scored a first-half hat-trick in Liverpool's 5-0 behind-closed-doors friendly win against Stoke City on Sunday afternoon, the striker had earned himself a new nickname.

"He's like a Reverse Samson!" quipped more than one supporter, a reference to the Biblical figure who derived powerful strength from his long hair.

Nunez, of course, has been sporting a new look since arriving back for pre-season training having taken the decision in the summer to shave off his trademark lengthy locks for a more manageable buzzcut.

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And there can be no argument he has hit the ground running during the early days of the warm-up programme, scoring within minutes of being introduced for the second half in last Sunday's 3-1 win at Championship side Preston North End, and taking only 20 minutes to register his treble at the AXA Training Centre at the weekend.

But, as has so often been the case for Nunez as a Liverpool player, matters are rarely straightforward.

And the context of both the player and club sheds a different light on his situation.

In terms of scrapping for his place as the number nine this season, Nunez could not be doing much more during the opening weeks.

The direction of travel, though, suggests the warm-up campaign is more a shop window for the Uruguay international rather than an opportunity for him to stake his claim for more regular first-team exposure under Arne Slot.

Nunez made just one Premier League start since Boxing Day last season - albeit scoring and then winning a penalty in the 3-1 triumph over Southampton - and played a bit-part role in the second half of the campaign as the Reds romped to the championship.

Not even the heavy squad rotation that came into force after the title was clinched with four games remaining was sufficient for Nunez to be given a start by Slot.

It's worth noting the 26-year-old featured in 30 of 38 Premier League games and all bar one of Liverpool's cup matches.

But even allowing for his playing time being down by a third on the previous season, his tally of just seven goals and seven assists highlighted Nunez didn't provide the cutting edge of terms past.

Part of the problem was his willingness - for the most part - to buy into the preferred style of play under Slot, which visibly compromised the Uruguayan's natural game.

It also didn't help that a set-up that implored wide players to score goals meant even when he was on the field, Nunez didn't have anywhere near the same number of chances.

But could Nunez still have a part to play at Liverpool?

At present It appears unlikely, with the club willing to entertain offers that match their valuation in excess of £50million.

While Napoli have seemingly ended their interest, AC Milan are still monitoring developments and the Saudi Pro League, who failed in a bid to sign Nunez in January, remains a possible destination.

Liverpool's pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike - and continued whispers of retained interest in Newcastle United's Alexander Isak - also seem be shoving Nunez closer to the exit, although with doubts over the futures of both Luis Diaz and Federico Chiesa, a sizeable overhaul of the forward options would prove costly.

They surely can't all leave, particularly with Reds having to also deal with the sensitivities of the tragic death earlier this month of Diogo Jota, who had started the Slot era as the first-choice number nine.

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Nunez, then, may not be finished at Anfield just yet.
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