New signing Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick as Liverpool beat Welsh side TNS 5-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Monday afternoon.
The £29m buy from Hoffenheim, as BBC Sport reports, made his Premier League debut as a 78nd-minute substitute in the 1-0 victory over Stoke City on Sunday.
But he has only recently returned to pre-season training because of his Copa America exploits with Brazil, and Brendan Rodgers saw an opportunity to get him some more match action.
Lazar Markovic and Danny Ings, neither of whom featured at the Britannia Stadium, were also on the scoresheet, with the latter supplying Firmino with one of his treble, as the below video shows.
Emre Can, Adam Bogdan, Lucas Leiva, Alberto Moreno, Divock Origi, Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure also featured in the match held at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground, according to ITV Sport.
Firmino will be hoping that his goalscoring exploits put him in the frame for a first competitive Liverpool start when the Reds welcome newly-promoted Bournemouth to Anfield on August 17.
Liverpool follow that fixture with a trip to Arsenal, so Rodgers may consider giving Firmino further Premier League exposure against the Cherries in preparation for the clash with their top-four rivals.
The 23-year-old scored 49 goals and contributed 36 assists in 153 games for Hoffenheim.
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