Speaking to Off the Ball, Phil Thompson has drawn comparisons between Darwin Nunez and a prime Fernando Torres.
The Uruguayan striker made quite the impact on his Premier League debut against Fulham at the weekend. He scored once and grabbed an assist as the Reds laboured to a 2-2 draw with the Whites, but his showing was more than impressive.
Nunez played with a level of intensity that you very rarely see, and Thompson says that his attitude and application reminds him of a young Torres.
What’s been said?
Thompson discussed Nunez and compared him to Torres.
“I’m very excited and it’s not just how well he played for Benfica against Liverpool. He tore us apart. I liken the boy to Torres, the Torres that first game to Liverpool, not the Torres that left. the Torres that was hungry, he was passionate, he wanted to learn, he wanted to improve, he ran the channels, he was good in the air, he wanted it massively and I see that in this young man. He will get better because he looks like he wants to please everybody at the moment,” Thompson said.
Get excited
Nunez may not have the technical precision or the finesse of Fernando Torres just yet, but he’s got that same fire in his belly, and that’s something to get excited about.
Let’s not forget, when Torres was at his best, his workrate was one of his best attributes. For all the goals he scored, he created just as many by running the channels and allowing Steven Gerrard the space to work his magic.
Nunez showed this weekend that he can do a similar job and create pockets for the likes of Mo Salah and Luis Diaz to work in, while he also scored his first Premier League goal.
Nunez has what it takes to be an absolute menace for defences in the same way Torres used to.
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