Steve McManaman shares what staff at Liverpool are telling him about Darwin Nunez ahead of Man City clash..

Liverpool fans will be hoping their big players can turn up tomorrow when they take on Manchester City at Anfield.

Although they’ve been boosted by the return of some of their key men over the last week, they are still without a couple of big hitters.

As a result, the onus will fall on a select group of stars to get Liverpool over the line against the champions. Of course, how Mohamed Salah handles his likely return to the starting line-up will have big say in the result. But so too will the performance of Darwin Nunez.

Nunez has been sensational lately. The Uruguayan added two great goals to his tally on Thursday, meaning he now has five goals in his last four games. And speaking via The Independent ahead of tomorrow’s clash with City, former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman said that staff at Anfield are completely convinced that there’s even more to come from Nunez.

“I think, unfortunately, because of some of his high-profile misses you will have fans shouting at him and singing songs like they did at Forest,” began the 52-year-old. “He will miss chances but his recent form: his goal against Brentford and his goal the other day (against Forest) shows his importance.

“I have every faith in him. I speak to the people at the club who say he works hard and tries to work on his finishing and overall play and hopefully he will get better and better.”

Liverpool staff happy with Nunez

Although he hasn’t always been seeing the results on the pitch, Nunez has always been held in high regard inside Liverpool.

When he was signed in 2022, it was clear that the Uruguay international was going to take some time to settle. Almost two years on, and it’s fair to say that Nunez now looks totally at home.

Still, the one thing perhaps missing from Darwin’s resurgence at Liverpool has been a goal against one of the Premier League’s top sides.

The Reds’ No.9 has scored some crucial, crucial goals this season in particular. Last week’s injury-time winner at Forest for example has the potential to be huge.

But aside from a double during the 7-0 rout of Manchester United last season and a consolation away to Arsenal, his impact against Liverpool’s top-end rivals has been scarce.

If Nunez can change that on Sunday and come up trumps against City, then all of that will be forgotten.

The way he’s playing of late – and the improvements seen in his game especially – you wouldn’t bet against Darwin being the headline maker tomorrow.

Staff at Liverpool have clearly long since been convinced by the former Benfica hitman. Slowly, the whole of the Reds fanbase have been turned, too. Get a big goal on City’s head, and the rest of the country will have no choice but to board the Nunez train as well.

Liverpool have the chance to make a real statement in the title race by beating Manchester City at Anfield tomorrow.

The Reds will likely head into the game having been knocked off the top of the Premier League table. With Arsenal at home to Brentford tonight, Liverpool vs City will probably be second against third by the time kick-off rolls around.

Liverpool’s injury list, suspensions and availability

INJURIES

THIAGO ALCANTARA

Thiago sustained a muscle injury when he made his first appearance of 2023-24 as a substitute in the defeat at Arsenal on February 4.

Jürgen Klopp was asked before Liverpool’s Emirates FA Cup fifth-round tie versus Southampton whether there is a timescale in place for Thiago’s return and if he will play again this season.

Klopp on February 27: “There’s no timescale. I don’t know, to be honest. It’s a couple of things [that] he has to do now from a medical point of view and then I don’t know if that will then mean that he can play again [this season].

“That’s not a short-term thing, that’s why I’m not really in the subject. It’s not that he might be in training in two weeks or stuff like this, so that’s why I’m not 100 per cent in it. I cannot say more about it, to be honest.”

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD

Alexander-Arnold sustained a knee injury during Liverpool’s win over Burnley on February 10 and, prior to the Carabao Cup final, assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders confirmed he will be out until after the March international break.

STEFAN BAJCETIC

Bajcetic has missed the majority of the current season due to a fitness issue.

Klopp on February 27: “He’s obviously gaining fitness now… he didn’t get a green light yet for us for the team training. He’s pain-free, completely pain-free, which is obviously the most important thing. All checks we made, like scans again, bone looks good, that’s all fine and he’s just doing the stuff he’s doing.”

ALISSON BECKER

The goalkeeper is out until after the March international break with a muscle injury he picked up in training.

BEN DOAK

The young forward is on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury while representing the Reds’ U21s.

Lijnders on December 19: “That’s not a good one. He teared his lateral meniscus, which needs surgery. That one will take [a] longer time. He is young, he is a fit guy, he is a positive guy so for sure he will come back stronger, and we need him to come back with the same fire he has with the ball, how he was. He can take time and we will wait for him.”

RYAN GRAVENBERCH

Gravenberch picked up an ankle injury during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea.

Klopp on February 27: “It’s a ligament injury, could have been much worse, but bad enough for being ruled out for this game, next game. We will see. So, we need miracles with a few players, so that’s why I don’t want to rule out for too long.”

CURTIS JONES

The midfielder sustained a high ankle sprain during Liverpool’s win at Brentford on February 17. Lijnders confirmed ahead of the Carabao Cup final that Jones will be available again ‘around the [March] international break’.

DIOGO JOTA

Jota is on the sidelines as a result of the medial ligament injury he picked up against Brentford.

Klopp on February 20: “Then we have Diogo with a knee issue, is ruled out. With Diogo, it will obviously take rather months. It’s with the injuries as well, so like you have important days. So, day five, day 10, they are always important days when you then judge the situation again because nobody reacts in the same way and it depends on the pain level they still have and stuff like this. I couldn’t give you a timeframe even if I wanted to, so that’s just how it is. When you don’t have these players available, it makes no sense as well to say, ‘OK, they will not be in before…'”

IBRAHIMA KONATE

The Reds are assessing Konate’s availability for the Anfield league clash with Manchester City, after he was withdrawn early in the second half of the March 7 win at Sparta Prague.

Klopp on March 8: “Ibou was rather positive last night, he thought he made the right decision in the right moment saying it’s better I go [off]. But how we know, that doesn’t mean a lot unfortunately. He will get scanned, definitely, [but] so far I don’t have the results of that.”

JOEL MATIP

The centre-back sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a challenge in the second half of Liverpool’s win over Fulham on December 3.

Matip subsequently underwent a successful operation and will continue his rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre, with no timescale placed on his recovery.