Liverpool's Champions League clash with Rangers presented Jurgen Klopp's side with the opportunity to get their season back on track after a difficult couple of weeks.
In addition to the 2-0 victory in Group A, there were numerous positives for the Reds to take ahead of this weekend's visit to table-topping Arsenal. Those came most notably out of possession as a switch of formation, from the much-trusted 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2, saw Liverpool produce a display nearer to what has become the benchmark at Anfield in recent years.
However, perhaps the only frustration on an otherwise positive night for Klopp's side was Darwin Nunez not getting on the scoresheet as he was thwarted by Rangers' veteran shot-stopper Allan McGregor four times.
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Despite not getting in on the act, Tuesday's outing against the Scottish giants was undoubtedly the Uruguayan's most satisfactory performance since his £64m switch to Merseyside from Benfica. Having scored in back-to-back games against Manchester City in the Community Shield and Fulham on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, the 23-year-old has since weathered a tricky start to life as a Red after he was suspended for three games due to a wild sending-off against Crystal Palace.
His time on the sidelines and subsequent settling-in period has meant he has only two goals to his name as a Liverpool player thus far. But as he was prevented from adding to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah's strikes either side of half-time, Nunez seemed to send a message to team-mate Virgil van Dijk as he failed to reap any fortune in the final third against McGregor.
“No quiere entrar, hermano," Nunez appeared to tell the defender after having one of his efforts denied once again.
A quick translation of the four-word message reveals the striker was telling Van Dijk, in his native Spanish: "[The ball] does not want to go in, brother." Despite the string of saves, Nunez keep knocking on the door in an encouraging display.
After the game, the former Benfica forward spoke to Brazilian TV station TNT Sports about the difficulties he has had in understanding the English language since his switch from Portugal and revealed that he counts on Pep Lijnders and Vitor Matos to translate Klopp's team talks.
"Well, we don't talk much!" said Nunez. "I don't know English and he doesn't know Spanish. Yes, we have a Portuguese translator in Pep (Lijnders), who I understand, and there is also Vitor (Matos), another Portuguese.
"They are the translators when Klopp talks to the group. They sit next to me and explain what I have to do. If they didn't explain it to me, I'd enter the field with no idea what to do.
"But the relationship with the coach is that he supports me, gives me confidence and I have to repay that on the field."
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