Darwin Nunez Liverpool 2023-24Getty Images

Darwin's on fire! Six things we learned as Nunez maintains pre-season scoring streak in Liverpool rout of Leicester

Darwin Nunez struck again while Alexis Mac Allister ran the show as Liverpool hammered Leicester 4-0 in a one-sided friendly in Singapore.

The Reds started somewhat shakily but stunned their Premier League rivals with three goals in eight first-half minutes, with Nunez breaking the deadlock from close range after following up a Diogo Jota shot.

Bobby Clark made it 2-0 with a neat finish from a Mohamed Salah lay-off, and the latter created the third goal too, with a sublime in-swinging cross that Diogo Jota headed home.

Liverpool continued to dominate after the break and Ben Doak capped an impressive performance with the fourth goal, heading home at the back post following a corner from Dominik Szoboszlai.

GOAL looks at what we learned during the clash at the Singapore National Stadium

  • Mac Allister is magical

    We knew as soon as Liverpool landed Mac Allister for just £35 million ($45m) that they had pulled off quite the coup. After all, the 24-year-old was one of the best players in the Premier League last season, and a key contributor to Argentina's triumphant World Cup campaign in Qatar.

    However, we really could be looking at the signing of the summer here. Obviously, it's early days, the real action has yet to get under way and Mac Allister will ultimately be judged on how he performs in competitive fixtures. But it's fair to say that he looks perfectly poised to become a massive fan favourite at Anfield.

    Mac Allister was outstanding for the 45 minutes he was on the field, linking Liverpool's play together wonderfully well. He popped up in between the lines to release Diogo Jota in the build-up to the game's opening goal, while he also started the move which led to Bobby Clark doubling the Reds' advantage.

    Jurgen Klopp, though, will probably have been most pleased with the way in which the World Cup winner pilfered possession in the Leicester box late in the first half before teeing up Jota, who unfortunately fired high and wide.

    Caution is obviously required, but it's going to be really hard for the Liverpool manager to quell the excitement surrounding Mac Allister - and the transformative effect he might have on the midfield - after a performance here that was as elegant as it was effective. Right now, he's looking like the answer to the supporters' prayers.

  • Advertisement
  • Darwin Nunez Liverpool 2023Getty

    Darwin looking dangerous

    Darwin Nunez scored 15 goals last season, which is not bad for a first season in English football - but, at the same time, not outstanding for a £64m ($82m) striker. The Uruguayan's strengths were obvious, but so too were his weaknesses, and he spent a significant - and worrying - amount of time sitting on the bench during the closing stages of the 2022-23 campaign.

    Liverpool will require much more from Darwin this time around and, on the evidence of what we saw here, and in the team's two previous friendlies, they might just get it.

    The 24-year-old's goal was a tap-in but he had already had one goal ruled out for offside, underlining the fact that he was a threat throughout his time on the pitch.

    The competition for places in the Liverpool attack will be even more intense this season but there is no denying that Darwin is up for the challenge. After his fourth goal in three pre-season outings, he is playing with a confidence that suggests he might just be capable of belatedly living up to his lofty transfer fee.

    Remember, he only exploded in his second season at Benfica. History could well repeat itself at Anfield.

  • Kelleher too good to be a back-up

    Caoimhin Kelleher wasn't heavily involved in Singapore, even during the early stages when Liverpool were looking vulnerable defensively. However, he made one huge save when the game was still scoreless eight minutes in, when he spread himself brilliantly to deny Wilfred Ndidi, who had been put clean through on goal.

    It was a stop that hammered home the fact that Kelleher is too good to be a back-up goalkeeper - but, sadly, that's all he's ever likely to be at Anfield, given Alisson is the man ahead of him in the pecking order.

    From Liverpool's perspective, it's obviously fantastic to have such quality cover - but it's not a good situation for Kelleher. He turns 25 in November and needs to be playing regular Premier League football by that point - particularly if he is to realise his hope of becoming Republic of Ireland's No.1.

    Losing last year's League Cup hero would be a bit of a blow for Liverpool but a summer transfer would not only bring in some much-needed cash, it would also be the right thing for Kelleher's career.

  • Jota set to pick up where he left off last season

    It was often overlooked just how badly Liverpool were affected by Jota's injury issues and related dip in form. When fully fit and firing, the Portuguese is the perfect Klopp forward, an all-action attacker with an incredible work-rate and the goalscoring instincts of a pure No.9.

    His return to form at the tail end of last season played a big part in Liverpool's revival - Jota struck seven times in the final nine Premier League games - and the great news for the Reds is that he looks set to hit the ground running in 2023-24.

    Jota was involved in nearly every attack during the first half. It was his saved shot which Nunez followed up to open the scoring, while he also squandered a great chance just before the break.

    However, Jota's goal proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that is back to something approaching his very best form, with the former Wolves man finishing a move that he had started by once again showing off his excellent heading skills.

    Whether deployed out wide or through the middle, Jota will have a massive role to play this season, fitness permitting of course...

  • Liverpool Leicester 2023Getty Images

    Young guns put their hands up

    It will not be easy for any midfielder or attacker to get into the Liverpool line-up this season - even proven players with plenty of experience. Because of the new arrivals and the return of a number of key men from injury, Klopp has so many fantastic options available to him.

    However, the manager also has some exciting youngsters knocking on the door, as so thrillingly illustrated in Singapore, with teenagers Clark and Doak both on target against Leicester.

    Clark's goal was well-taken, with the former Newcastle starlet sweeping home a pass from Salah from just inside the area, while Doak did well to adjust his body and head home Joel Matip's flick-on midway through the second half.

    It remains to be seen, though, how much game time either player will get this season. Loan moves could well be the best option, as it's clear that both Clark and Doak have the talent to excel at Premier League level.

  • Szoboszlai's class is obvious

    Dominik Szoboszlai's evening came to a premature end, with the summer signing from RB Leipzig coming off with 10 minutes to go - despite only being introduced in place of Mac Allister after the interval.

    It looked like a purely precautionary measure, as the Hungarian certainly didn't appear to be in any real anguish, and Liverpool will be certainly hoping that's the case because Szoboszlai did enough during his cameo to suggest he'll provide the supporters with plenty of excitement this season.

    His set-piece delivery was excellent while the 22-year-old very nearly scored from 45 yards out with an audacious lofted effort, after pouncing on a loose ball and then spotting the Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen outside of his area.

    Liverpool badly lacked a goal threat from midfield last season but that shouldn't be an issue this year if Szoboszlai and Mac Allister involved.