Darwin Nunez urged to 'work harder' by former Liverpool man Luis Garcia

Darwin Nunez has been told to ‘work harder’ as he continues to struggle in pre-season for Liverpool.

The Uruguayan striker missed a sitter in his first outing for the club against Manchester United earlier this week and once again struggled to live up to his £85m price tag in Friday’s friendly against Crystal Palace in Singapore.

Nunez, who arrived from Benfica, was subbed on at half-time as Jurgen Klopp effectively fielded two sides, though he was withdrawn after barely half an hour following an uninspiring display.

A compilation of his cameo went viral on social media afterwards, featuring poor misses and wayward passing from the 23-year-old.

Luis Garcia, who won the Champions League and FA Cup during his three-year spell at Liverpool from 2004 to 2007, feels the club’s fans should not be concerned over Nunez but urged him to do more.

Asked if Liverpool fans should be worried over Nunez, Garcia told ESPN FC: ‘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 his movements, the way that he plays will give [Liverpool] a lot. But they need to wait. He