Speaking on the Wrighty’s House Podcast, Ian Wright has been discussing Darwin Nunez after his torrid Anfield debut for Liverpool.
The Uruguayan was sent-off against Crystal Palace on Monday, but his all-around performance was concerning before the red card.
Indeed, Joachim Andersen had Nunez in his pocket for the entire game prior to the red card, and after the match plenty was being said about the striker.
Wright saw more than one commenter stating that Nunez needs to bulk up, but the Arsenal legend refutes that criticism, stating that he doesn’t think that Nunez needs to hit the gym.
What’s been said?
Wright spoke about Nunez and the fact he doesn’t need to bulk up.
“I was reading a couple of comments that said he needs to bulk up, he needs to get in the gym. He doesn’t actually need to do it,” Wright said.
“Of course he’ll need to get a bit more physical in respects of backing in and challenges because like we’ve seen, he’s great in the air, he’s got great pace.
“I personally thought his link-up play last night watching him, there were opportunities for Robertson to pass into him and people to pass into him in that lane where you need him to make the move, link the play. It was one of those games for him where you could just see the frustration building.”
Strike a balance
Nunez probably doesn’t need to bulk up in the traditional sense of the word, but he could certainly do with being a bit stronger.
Nunez’s lanky frame makes him quite easy to knock off the ball at times, and while he’s not weak by any stretch of the imagination, he could do with being a bit sturdier.
However, you don’t necessarily need to be bulky to do that.
Sadio Mane and Mo Salah are two rather diminutive players who were two of the strongest in the Premier League during their time together at Liverpool.
Nunez needs to have that Mane or Salah level of base strength about him, and that will probably come in time as he trains under Jurgen Klopp.
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