Mohamed Salah’s header in Leipzig on Wednesday night was almost certainly about to nestle in the bottom corner but where others saw an opener Darwin Núñez spotted an opportunity. The Uruguayan sprinted to make sure he got the last touch, jabbing in what turned out to be the winner to keep Liverpool’s perfect Champions League start going with a goal he and his team needed.
Under Arne Slot Liverpool have been almost faultless, the only hint of shadow in the sunny fields at Anfield was a home defeat to Nottingham Forest. The fine form has resulted in the Dutchman often sticking with the same players that have served him well, leaving others to stew on the bench.
Núñez was one of these tracksuited substitutes, left to wait for his chance. It took six games until Slot felt it was time to start him, replacing Diogo Jota as the central striker. The two forwards differ – where the Portuguese offers the same level of diligence and consistency when carrying out his duties, Núñez is a touch more unpredictable. What they have in common, however, is a relentless workrate. While Jota channels his when pressing, Núñez can be more erratic and committed to the “striker’s challenge”.
Since arriving at Anfield in the summer of 2022, Núñez has rarely given off the impression he could be a prolific scorer. Before scoring against Bournemouth in September, Núñez had gone 14 matches without troubling the statisticians. It is hard for any striker to go through such a lengthy barren period without facing questions. He often gives the impression of a scorer of incredible goals rather than an incredible goalscorer, his curling strike against Bournemouth perfectly taken and his winner from half a yard in Germany underlines his ruthless streak.
Jota’s recent injury record is a cause for concern, resulting in him missing large sections of the past two seasons. Last season he scored 10 goals in 21 league appearances, one fewer than Núñez who played a further 15 matches. Núñez required 186 minutes per goal, compared with his teammate who found the net every 115. Needless to say, Núñez’s finishing was more wayward, securing a shooting accuracy of 53.49%, while Jota was far more impressive with 66.67%. Jota has set the example that Núñez has to follow under the guidance of Slot.
Núñez will have another chance to show he could be a long-term solution as No 9 when Liverpool face title rivals Arsenal on Sunday. He replaced Jota in last weekend’s win over Chelsea after the Portuguese striker was forced off in the first half. In a somewhat chaotic game, Núñez offered boundless energy to keep the centre-backs under pressure, a tactic he replicated in Leipzig. Over this season, despite being far from a regular, Núñez has produced nine tackles in the league, two more than the Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.
It is an indication of how much work he puts in off the ball to ensure that Liverpool defend from the front. He was tireless against Chelsea, ensuring the visitors could not get the ball up the pitch easily as they searched for a late equaliser. Slot has created the most miserly defence in the Premier League – conceding three times in eight matches – and the effort comes from everyone on the pitch.
Núñez often falls short in front of goal, so makes up for it by being a defensive focal point. His frustration at not scoring regularly seems to have found a greater equilibrium as he matures. There are clear improvements with his link-up play and against Chelsea he did not attempt a single shot in an hour on the pitch.
Slot is happy for his team to be more direct when required and they regularly turned the Chelsea defence. Tosin Adarabioyo was lucky to escape without being sent off after hauling down Jota when he was potentially through on goal thanks to a smart pass over the top from Salah, another who can outstrip many defenders in a race. Núñez possesses the pace to cause problems in behind and is an asset for a team who have the quality to pick the right time to quickly move up the pitch thanks to the quality passers in midfield with Ryan Gravenberch at the base.
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It is easy to forget because of the high price paid to acquire Núñez that he was not the finished article. Liverpool could eventually pay €100m (£83m) for the striker. Furthermore, with the greatest of respect to the Portuguese league, he was making a huge step up by joining an elite Premier League team nor did it help that they collectively struggled in his first season in England. Some players settle quicker than others and Núñez has required time, though he will get the minutes required to help his evolution in a team undergoing their own.
Of late Arsenal have boasted one of the best defences in Europe but will be without the suspended William Saliba and injured Riccardo Calafiori. Liverpool will be confident of causing damage at the Emirates, as Núñez aims to take advantage of the absentees in both lineups to show Slot he is ready to be his first-choice in attack.
