Micah Richards warns Liverpool to not disregard the threat of Darwin Nunez when Jurgen Klopp’s side face Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals, via his Daily Mail column.
The former England international feels the final eight draw will have been ‘delighted’ Reds fans on Friday. UEFA plucked the Anfield natives out of the hat against the side currently in third in Portugal’s top-flight, while Chelsea drew the runaway La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Manchester City will also face Atletico Madrid, while Bayern Munich must beat Villarreal – who eliminated Juventus in the last 16. Benfica sealed their quarter-final spot against Ajax, but Nelson Verissimo’s side also emerged from Group E with Der FCB ahead of Barcelona.
Liverpool could argue they landed one of the easier paths to the semi-finals with Benfica. But As Aguias striker Nunez has stood out to Richards throughout the Champions League.
Micah Richards sends Liverpool ‘warning’ on Benfica star Darwin Nunez
Nunez has offered Verissimo a prolific threat at the Estadio da Luz all season so far with 26 goals. Four of his strikes have come in eight Champions League ties, while netting 20 in 22 Liga Portugal games. He fired two against Barcelona and one at Bayern in the group stage.
The 22-year-old also struck his latest effort to ensure As Aguias beat Ajax 1-0 to win 3-2 on aggregate. His efforts enthralled Richards, while previously exciting clubs around Europe to see Benfica increase their €60m (£50m) valuation to €80m (£67m), per Correio da Manha.
Now, Richards urges Liverpool to not disregard what Nunez offers Benfica ahead of their Champions League quarter-final trip to Portugal on April 5 and reverse clash on April 13.
“Liverpool fans will have been delighted at how the Champions League draw panned out,” Richards wrote. “But let me provide a word of warning. Darwin Nunez has caught my eye all year and he came up trumps for Benfica, once again, to send them into the last eight.
“Nunez scored his 26th goal of the season and is only 22. He is tall, strong, he runs in behind and knows how to finish. He’s scored against Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax so far – don’t discount him doing the same against Liverpool.”
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