Graeme Souness now feels Liverpool have a really frustrating player in Darwin Nunez. The Anfield icon believes that no club ‘enjoys playing against’ his smart and brave style of play.
His first season on Merseyside has proven to be a mixed bunch in most since Jurgen Klopp broke the bank. Liverpool paid an initial £64m to sign Nunez on a six-year contract in July. Future add-ons could also take the forward’s transfer fee up to a club record fee of £85m.
For the money that Liverpool invested, Nunez has afforded Klopp 14 goals in 31 matches in all competitions so far. He has also laid on four assists and has started 21 of his games. But just five of those goals came over the 16-cap Uruguay star’s first 16 Premier League games.
Darwin Nunez is now enjoying his best moment as a Premier League player so far
Yet Nunez has scored three goals over his past three Premier League matches as Liverpool beat Newcastle United, Wolves and Manchester United. He ended his six-game drought at St James’ Park with the first in a 2-0 win and scored two in the 7-0 win over the Red Devils.
The attacker had enjoyed an impactful debut in the Premier League following his arrival in the summer from Benfica. He scored and assisted at Fulham in a 2-2 draw. But Nunez then saw a red card on his first start against Crystal Palace after headbutting Joachim Andersen.
Nunez’s other previous Premier League hits came against Arsenal on October 9, West Ham United on October 19 and two against Southampton on November 12. Yet only Mohamed Salah has now outscored the Uruguayan for Liverpool in the top-flight this season with 11.
What has Reds legend Graeme Souness now said about Darwin Nunez at Anfield?
Nunez enjoying his best moment as a Premier League player over Liverpool’s recent games has convinced Souness that he can be a ‘real asset’ for the Anfield outfit. The Reds legend also believes that no team will enjoy having to defend against what the attacker can offer.
“He is going to get three, four or five chances every game and although he’ll miss some and have off days, he’ll convert a lot, too,” Souness wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
“That’s just the type of player he is – big, quick, brave and he’s got a brain. I don’t think anyone enjoys playing against him. He’s going to be a real asset.”
Per WhoScored, Nunez is yet to play in a Premier League fixture with Liverpool and fail to attempt a shot. The summer signing from Benfica has also attempted three or more shots in 16 of his 19 appearances. He has even taken seven in one, six in three and five in three.
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