I remember sitting in a bar in Majorca watching Liverpool against Ipswich earlier this season. Muñoz picked up the ball and went bursting towards the middle of the pitch. The commentator said something along the lines of, “Oh my God, look at Víctor Muñoz go!”

I remember sitting there thinking, “Fuck me.”

There was something about him. The pace, the directness, the way he carried the ball. He immediately caught my attention, and everything I've seen from him since has only strengthened that first impression.

Liverpool have got a serious player on their hands.

A mate of mine described Muñoz as a wasp. I thought that was a brilliant analogy. He's one of those wasps that simply won't leave you alone. An absolute pain in the arse.

That's exactly what he must feel like to play against.

He's constantly up and down the line, running at defenders, chasing them down and making himself a problem. His work rate is exceptional. He gives everything, and there's a real tenacity about him. Even when something doesn't come off, you know he'll be back at the defender again.

I'd love to know what Brentford's left-back thought of him after Saturday's game. Or Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly last weekend. I suspect neither would describe facing Muñoz as an enjoyable afternoon.

And the pace Liverpool now have out wide is remarkable.

To my eye, last season's wingers looked short of pace. Now, with Bradley Barcola on one side and Muñoz on the other, we look so much quicker. It's a completely different proposition for opposition defenders.

But there's more to Muñoz than simply being quick.

Saturday's goal against Brentford was a perfect example of what he can bring to this Liverpool side.

At 1-0 down, Liverpool needed somebody to make the difference. Brentford had been reduced to ten men, but Liverpool still had to find a way through.

Muñoz provided it.

Breaking down the right, he cut inside onto his left foot and guided a wonderful finish into the far bottom corner beyond Caoimhín Kelleher. A fantastic goal, and a hugely important one in a match Liverpool eventually won 2-1.

It reminded me of something Liverpool supporters became accustomed to seeing for years from another player operating on that right wing.

Mohamed Salah.

I'm certainly not suggesting Muñoz is the next Salah. That's an enormous comparison to make after a handful of appearances. But Salah had that wonderful ability to make the difference in a game with one moment of individual quality.

He did it time and time again.

Against Brentford, Muñoz showed that same ability to produce something decisive. It's something I want to see much more of because I genuinely believe he has the talent.

And that brings me to the £34.5 million Liverpool paid Osasuna for him.

Football is a funny game.

Liverpool have spent enormous amounts of money over the past couple of years. We've discussed that enough already, and there's no need to go through every transfer again here.

But spending big money doesn't guarantee you're getting a better footballer. Liverpool are finding that out, and plenty of other Premier League clubs have experienced exactly the same thing.

Sometimes the player who costs considerably less turns out to be every bit as good.

Look back at the great Liverpool side under Jürgen Klopp.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Andy Robertson. Four players who became absolutely fundamental to one of the finest Liverpool teams I've ever watched.

None arrived as the finished article.

Salah was already an excellent player at Roma, but nobody could reasonably have expected the numbers he would eventually produce at Anfield. Mané developed into one of the best forwards in Europe. Firmino became the heartbeat of that front three, while Robertson went from a relegated Hull City side to being one of the finest left-backs in world football.

Liverpool bought good footballers and helped turn them into exceptional ones.

That's the sort of business Muñoz reminds me of.

At £34.5 million, he wasn't a cheap signing in any traditional sense. But in today's transfer market, particularly when you look at the money being spent on attacking players, it looks like excellent value.

Of course, there's a perfectly reasonable argument against getting too carried away.

He's only played a handful of games.

I accept that. Nobody can tell you with certainty what Muñoz will look like after two or three seasons. We've all seen players make impressive starts before struggling to maintain that level.

But I'm judging what I've seen.

His pace, that work rate and the willingness to take defenders on are already evident. He has the attributes that make him a constant threat.

The next step is adding goals and assists more regularly.

He's already scored twice in the Premier League, against Nottingham Forest and Brentford. That's a perfectly respectable return at this early stage, particularly for somebody still finding his feet at a new club.

But I believe there's considerably more to come.

If he can develop that consistency in front of goal and improve his final ball, I genuinely don't see why he couldn't become one of the best wingers in the Premier League over the next few years.

He's already a Spain international, which tells you something about his ability. Getting regular opportunities in a national side containing Lamine Yamal, arguably the best right-sided player in world football, is another challenge altogether.

But Muñoz has time on his side.

He's 23 years old, he's playing for Liverpool, and he's already showing he belongs at this level.

What impresses me most is that you don't need him to score or assist to appreciate what he brings. You can watch him for 90 minutes and see the problems he's causing. That relentless running, the pressure he puts on defenders and his willingness to keep trying things all contribute to the team.

The goals and assists will determine just how far he goes.

I don't doubt he has the ability to produce serious numbers in the coming years. Whether he does is something we'll have to wait and see.

But I'll say this now: I think Liverpool have made a brilliant signing.

And if Muñoz starts producing goals and assists consistently alongside everything else he already gives you, we're going to be talking about one hell of a player.