Darwin Núñez enters a Liverpool squad that was one recreation away from finishing an illustrious quadruple. Ultimately, the Reds received the 2 lesser trophies of that set, the FA Cup and the League Cup. It misplaced the Premier League on the ultimate day and received shutout within the Champions League Remaining.
Purpose-scoring was by no means actually the problem with Liverpool, even in that Champions League Remaining in opposition to Actual Madrid. That day, Thibaut Courtois placed on the efficiency of his life because the Belgian stopped all 9 of Liverpool’s pictures on track.
A brand new striker might resolve that blemish. Nonetheless, a strike power of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and a breakout Luis Diaz are hardly responsible. In spite of everything, Liverpool completed second in targets scored in each the Premier League and Champions League.
But, if there have been ever a weak spot in Liverpool’s beginning lineup, it was the striker place. Mohamed Salah supplied straightforward seems to be for Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and even Mané and Diaz, such is the character of the Egyptian’s greatness.
In keeping with Soccer Reference, a statistics database, Diogo Jota and Sadio Mané scored less goals than what they were expected primarily based on scoring possibilities.
In step Uruguayan Darwin Núñez at Liverpool. The Benfica striker is without doubt one of the greatest by way of targets per 90 minutes performed. Twenty-six goals in 28 Primeira Liga games this previous season warranted a transfer fee in the range of $78 million. Nonetheless, that would rise to over $100 million ought to the participant and Liverpool hit sure benchmarks.
Núñez takes over within the entrance three from Sadio Mané. Here’s what Liverpool supporters, and rival followers, can count on from the 6’2″ striker.
How Darwin Núñez suits in at Liverpool
To begin with, here’s what Liverpool might line up as if totally match.
There may be not actually a clean spot on this lineup. Thiago and Luis Diaz broke by way of for Jürgen Klopp’s facet coming into the closing phases of the season. Mohamed Salah is without doubt one of the greatest gamers on the earth. Plus, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk joined Salah, Thiago and Mané within the 2021/22 PFA Group of the Yr.
Darwin Núñex clearly has an elite supporting forged round him. It’s truthful to say the service from the Premier League’s greatest crossing duo in Andy Robertson and Alexander-Arnold fits the bullish striker. Furthermore, Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson completed first, second and tied-third, respectively, on the Premier League assists chart from a season in the past.
Liverpool’s squad rivals that of Manchester Metropolis for most-balanced facet in Europe. Núñez, like Erling Haaland with Manchester Metropolis, tops a possible beginning XI that each prevents targets and appears to attain at will.
The Uruguayan’s ability set that caps Liverpool’s lineup stems from his beginnings in Uruguay with Peñarol. A membership at all times within the highlight, Núñez left his residence on two events to check out for one among Uruguay’s elite sides.
Juan Arango, a bilingual commentator who incessantly calls video games in Copa Libertadores and lots of leagues from around the globe, noticed Núñez throughout his transient time with Peñarol. He says that Núñez’s father labored in development whereas his mom collected bottles to make ends meet. Arango says Liverpool supporters shouldn’t have any issues over the highlight of Anfield.
“Peñarol is at all times within the information cycles in Uruguay and the stress to win at a membership like that’s simply as intense as it’s at Liverpool,” Arango wrote in an electronic mail. “Additionally, rising up in poverty helps you get perspective by way of stress attributable to stardom.”
Targets, and extra targets
That stress was not a problem throughout his two years in Portugal. Within the Champions League, Núñez scored six targets in 10 video games in the course of the 2021/22 marketing campaign to complete in a tie for seventh with gamers like Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Two of these got here in a 3-0 win in opposition to Barcelona within the group stage, as did one other in opposition to Bayern Munich. Nonetheless, the 2 that catch eyes are within the knockout phases. He scored residence and away in opposition to a closely favored facet. That staff that he scored in every leg in opposition to was Liverpool, and maybe that contributed to the membership’s acquisition of the participant.
In actual fact, Virgil Van Dijk mentioned Núñez was amongst his toughest opponents to play in opposition to, with the 2 butting shoulders in Benfica’s residence leg.
Domestically, there’s a leap from Benfica within the Primeira Liga to Liverpool within the Premier League, regardless of the nomenclature. Nonetheless, Arango believes the gamers surrounding him at Liverpool make that transition simpler.
“He doesn’t should be a celebrity or a world-beating striker at Liverpool, conserving in thoughts the gamers he has alongside him.”
The value tag would warrant a celebrity standing. Nonetheless, Klopp and Liverpool’s success with transfers exhibits that they care much less in regards to the massive identify and extra in regards to the product. Trophies are the measure of success at Liverpool, not particular person awards. Nonetheless, Salah continues to rake these in by the bunches.
The transition
With the intention to bolster the trophy depend, one factor Núñez should concentrate on is the adjustment to England, not essentially the Premier League.
“It is going to be very troublesome to get the timing down within the first few months of the season conserving in thoughts he has to journey (almost 5, six time zones) for a FIFA date in September after which play within the World Cup in November. So, his apply must be fairly intense.”
With the debut of the Premier League schedule lately, Liverpool followers already see potential spots for the Uruguayan to attain his first within the well-known pink package.
PHOTO: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC by way of Getty Photos
