OPINION Darwin Nunez drought is alarming but there could be something more worrying happening at Liverpool

OPINION Darwin Nunez drought is alarming but there could be something more worrying happening at Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp bet the house on Darwin Nunez in 2022 and now it’s time for that debt to be repaid at Liverpool, writes Paul Gorst

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ByPaul GorstLiverpool FC correspondent
15:46, 18 DEC 2023
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Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez has not scored since November 1. (Image: Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

A fired up Darwin Nunez was hearing his name echoing around an expanded Anfield as the biggest crowd for 50 years saluted Liverpool’s No.9 in full voice.

“Nunez! Nunez! Nunez!” roared the Kop before it was picked down the opposite end by those in the new-look Anfield Road stand.

Then came the sobering moment that saw the yellow card arrive from referee Michael Oliver, who was brandishing the caution after the striker had crudely barged Jonny Evans to the floor before foolishly smashing the ball away.

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In the second half the Uruguay international was hearing his name once more bounce around the ground after his chasing of a hopeful punt down the line had brought the scant reward of a throw-in for the Reds. The two incidents were an instructive snapshot into how things are going for Nunez just now.

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Clearly, there is a willingness from the support-base to see him flourish and the attempts to fill him with confidence through the chanting is one the fans never turn their noses up at. Even when the striker has missed chances this season they have responded as though he has just scored them a goal.

It’s an admirable trait aimed at keeping a young player and a potential match-winner’s head from dropping at crucial points of a game but, at some stage, that unwavering backing will need more to fuel it.

Nunez’s goalless run-out in Sunday’s dour draw with Manchester United means he has now gone 10 games without finding the net. In total fairness, Thursday’s dead-rubber defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise as a substitute in the youngest side ever to start a European game shouldn’t really be factored in but the general point remains valid.

Not since that superb curling effort that secured the Reds’ passage to the last eight of the Carabao Cup, against Bournemouth on November 1, has the Uruguay international registered for his club and his most recent assist was for Mohamed Salah in the 3-0 win over Brentford back on November 12.

More worryingly, however, is the perception that the chances are also drying up. Sunday’s draw with United means the Reds’ five-man frontline department have scored just one goal in their last five games.

Having seen at least one of them register in each game across all competitions, the quintet went into the draw with Manchester City last month having shared 39 goals between them in 18 games. Since then, just Mohamed Salah’s equaliser at Crystal Palace is all the frontmen have to show on the scoresheet for their collective efforts.

The loss of Diogo Jota, who picked up a hamstring issue at City on November 25, has been hugely detrimental but those who are still fit have not covered for the Portugal international’s absence in the meantime.

With 200 Liverpool goals to his name, it would by hypercritical to question to Salah’s output this term, especially considering he once more leads the way at the top of the in-house charts with 14 but Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Nunez have not eased the burden on the Egypt star.

There is a school of thought that the dip in form of Dominik Szoboszlai, the injury to Alexis Mac Allister and the ongoing struggles of Curtis Jones to regain that early-season form have contributed to a lack of creativity for the front players to thrive off and there is some merit in that.

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But with champions City enduring a wobble that has seen them take just seven points from the last 18 on offer, an in-form and firing Nunez could yet make a major difference to a Liverpool team who, whether they like it being discussed or not, find themselves embroiled in a fight for the Premier League title as January creeps into focus.

And at an initial £64m – which has since risen to a club-record equalling £75m due to appearances – there is a right to demand more from Nunez in the final third after 18 months as a Liverpool player. Prior to Sunday’s game, the 24-year-old was third bottom in the list of players with the worst Expected Goals Differential, which calculates how many should have been scored given the quality of the chances, since his arrival in 2022.

Only Neal Maupay and Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a greater margin than Nunez’s -5.68 figure. His 13-goal return should be much closer to the 20 mark according to statisticians Opta while just Erling Haaland’s tally of 17 was higher than the Reds forward’s figure of 15 for ‘big chances missed’ in that time. That, at least, is partly down to Liverpool and Man City being two of the best around for servicing their strikers with presentable opportunities. That is a quality that has been conspicuous by its absence of late for Klopp’s team.

Those with knowledge of the transaction say Liverpool moved for Nunez after Klopp “fell in love” with the striker during his analysis meetings for the Champions League tie with Benfica in 2022. The powerful and pacy frontman spent the two legs proving the Reds manager’s judgement to be astute as he performed with distinction with two goals across both legs. He looked every inch like a young striker ready to take the next step to a European giant at the time.

Since then, though, Nunez’s obvious promise and potential have been undermined by the loose touches, the mistimed runs and the rushed finishing, even if there is ample evidence so far for those who continue to champion his cause.

Klopp bet the house on Nunez in 2022, though and now it’s time for that debt to be repaid. It could yet be all the difference in an intriguing race for the title.

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