Liverpool Hit Five Past Stoke Behind Closed-Doors As Darwin Nunez NetsTreble

Last Updated:July 21, 2025, 07:48 IST

Nunez struck three times inside the opening 20 minutes of the contest, while Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa added a goal each on either side of half-time to pick up a 5-0 triumph.

Liverpool 5-0 Stoke City. (X)

Premier League champions Liverpool registered a 5-0 victory over Stoke City in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Sunday at the AXA Training Centre.

Darwin Nunez turned out to be the star on the day as the Uruguayan netted three times inside the opening 20 minutes of the contest with the Championship outfit, while Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa added their names to the scoresheet on either side of half-time.

The victory was the Reds’ second in as many games before jetting off to Asia for their pre-season tour.

Nunez initiated the scoring in the sixth minute with an instinctive follow-up strike after Florian Wirtz’s attempted through-ball for Dominik Szoboszlai was only partially cleared.

He found the net again six minutes later, finishing off Szoboszlai’s low cross from the right at the end of a well-orchestrated move.

Nunez completed his hat-trick within 14 minutes of the first half by nudging home Curtis Jones’ delivery inside the box.

The hosts extended their lead to four midway through the first half when Ngumoha received the ball in the area, cut inside, and watched his deflected shot loop into the net.

Closer to the break, Jones, who had surged forward to meet Andy Robertson’s pass from the left flank, was unable to add a fifth, side-footing straight at goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

Liverpool fielded an entirely different outfield team for the second half. Early on, Ben Doak was frustrated by the post, having pounced on the rebound from a Chiesa shot that had been parried.

Cody Gakpo, Chiesa, and Doak tested goalkeeper Jack Bonham in quick succession, before Armin Pecsi was called into action at the other end to keep out Tatsuki Seko’s header.

Wataru Endo narrowly missed the target with his headed effort from a Gakpo corner, and Luca Stephenson fired over from Jeremie Frimpong’s cut-back.

The Reds finally scored their fifth goal two minutes before the end of the 90 minutes. Gakpo was found at the back post by Frimpong and unselfishly squared the ball to Chiesa for a simple finish.

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News sports » football Liverpool Hit Five Past Stoke Behind Closed-Doors As Darwin Nunez NetsTreble