Ian Wright believes that one participant in Liverpool’s squad poses a ‘huge drawback’ for Arne Slot and may very well be detrimental to their hopes of profitable the Premier League this season.
Whereas the likes of Luis Diaz and Mo Salah have thrived up entrance for the Reds because the begin of the marketing campaign, it’s been a lot more durable for Darwin Nunez, who’s scored simply as soon as in 307 minutes of game-time and has been restricted to a few begins in all competitions (Transfermarkt).
The Uruguay striker – who value LFC an preliminary £64m to signal from Benfica in 2022, probably rising to £85m with add-ons (BBC Sport) – has confronted incessant criticism since arriving in England, and he’s presently regarded by the top coach as our backup centre-forward to Diogo Jota.
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Wright not satisfied by Nunez
Talking on the newest episode of the Wrighty’s Home podcast, Wright claimed that Liverpool would ‘simply’ be favourites to win the league if Nunez have been scoring constantly, however he now doubts whether or not the 25-year-old will ever be something greater than an ‘affect participant’ for the Reds.
The ex-Arsenal marksman mentioned: “Are you able to think about if Nunez might rating constantly? That’s some huge cash to play for a squad participant. I see Jota as the principle man; he [Nunez] is an affect participant, and that’s some huge cash for an affect participant.
“I’ve seen sufficient of him now. I believed at some stage it could click on for him, nevertheless it’s not clicked in for him. If it clicked in for him then Liverpool are positively simply favourites. Simply one of many favourites, Liverpool with a firing Darwin Nunez. I’m telling you, it’s a large drawback.”
Nunez hasn’t been at his finest…however that would change
As a lot as we wish Nunez to succeed at Liverpool and eventually show his many doubters unsuitable, he hasn’t actually made the many of the alternatives handed to him by Slot to date this season.
Except for Federico Chiesa, who’s solely had piecemeal involvement since his switch from Juventus six weeks in the past, the Uruguayan is our lowest-scoring ahead for the marketing campaign to date (Transfermarkt).
The paradox is that the solitary purpose he’s netted in 2024/25 was, in fact, the stupendous strike towards Bournemouth final month – a end of such aplomb that it boggles the thoughts as to how he doesn’t rating extra commonly.
Nunez might want to hold battling to muscle Jota out of the crew, barring an prolonged absence for the Portugal ahead, though Slot has mentioned that the 25-year-old might now profit from having his CONMEBOL ban suspended and being obtainable for Uruguay throughout the present worldwide break.
Perhaps a few objectives within the shirt of his nation will uncork a torrent of confidence that he’ll take again to Merseyside and unleash on Liverpool’s upcoming opponents. As Wright says, simply think about how deadly our ahead line could be if our explosive quantity 9 discovers his finest type.
