For the first time in more than 18 months, the unpredictable Uruguayan looks like he could become as important to his side as the Norwegian is to his
Less than three months into the 2022-23 season, Andy Robertson was already calling for an end to the constant comparisons between Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland. "The only reason they are getting compared is because they play in the same position and moved in the same window," the Liverpool left-back argued. "It is not fair on anyone." Maybe not, but it was inevitable.
Nunez and Haaland weren't just any two strikers. They were multi-million pound summer signings who had joined the top two clubs in England. They even made their competitive debuts for their respective sides in the same game.
Funnily enough, Nunez got the better of that first head-to-head, coming off the bench to win a penalty and score a goal as Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-1 to win the Community Shield at the King Power Stadium. However, by the time of Robertson's futile plea in October 2022, Haaland was already being hailed as as the greatest goalscorer the Premier League had even seen, while Nunez was known as "just a sh*t Andy Carroll".
The Uruguayan still is in the eyes of some rival supporters, which is mystifying for a couple of reasons.
'I would not sing a song like that'
For starters, Nunez has developed a useful habit of responding to the jibe with goals. Brentford fans have already been burned twice this season, while last Saturday, it was the turn of their Nottingham Forest counterparts.
"I would not sing a song like that," Jurgen Klopp said after watching Nunez nod in a 99th-minute winner at the City Ground – just half an hour after being welcomed into the game by the home crowd in the usual insulting fashion. "I would not try to wind Darwin up. I understood [the song]. I think he understood it. So, that's the best answer."
Indeed, while Nunez quite clearly remains a work in progress, the Carroll comparison just no longer holds up. Liverpool's No.9 may not be the finished article – maybe he never will be either – but he is far from a flop.
In fact, for arguably the first time since the 2022 Community Shield, Nunez actually looks capable of becoming as valuable to Liverpool as Haaland is to City.
Advertisement'To even consider that finish is madness!'
Goals are obviously the most precious commodity in football, and Nunez is still nowhere near as clinical or as prolific as Haaland. He has scored 31 times in total since joining Liverpool from Benfica – his Norwegian rival has hit 29 goals this season alone.
There's also no denying that Nunez's strike-rate should be far higher, as he still misses far too many chances. During his first season at Anfield, the feeling was that he was rushing things, and Klopp had to tell him several times to be "calmer" in front of goal.
There has been a noticeable improvement in that regard in recent months. He certainly didn't lack composure when he lifted the ball over Mark Flekken to break the deadlock at Brentford last month.
But even that sublime lob exposed a flaw in Nunez's finishing, as far as former Liverpool striker Michael Owen was concerned.
"I can't begin to explain how difficult a skill that is: moving at pace, the ball running away from you, being inside the box with no room for error. Incredible!" the ex-England international wrote on X. "But, it is also further proof that if he is to get closer to becoming the great player many people think he can be, he has to adapt his way of thinking. I mean, to even consider that finish is madness. It's a one in 10, two in 10 finish at best.
"Learning to slot, dink or go round the [goalkeeper] is a far more productive way to score and will increase his chances to four or five in 10, thus massively increasing his return."
GettyBetter team with Nunez up front
Owen certainly has a point. Nunez may be scoring more goals this season (he's just surpassed his 2022-23 tally of 15 thanks to Thursday night's double in Prague) – but his finishing hasn't actually got any better. As per , both his shot conversion rate and 'big chance' conversion rate have fallen slightly this term. However, nearly every other aspect of his game has improved.
Klopp has freely admitted that last season Liverpool "needed a No.9 who defended the centre perfectly". Nunez couldn't do it then – but "now he can". More importantly, he's also become far more effective from an offensive perspective.
He's repeatedly made a massive impact off the bench, earning the Reds five precious Premier League points so far this season with his late goals against Forest and Newcastle, while Klopp's kids would not have got their big day out at Wembley had it not been for their South American super-sub turning the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham in Liverpool's favour with two assists.
However, it's also no coincidence that Liverpool have not lost a single game Nunez has started this season. They are, quite simply, a better – and more dangerous – team with Nunez in attack.
'Could be the best player in the world!'
His finishing continues to frustrate, of course. Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has even argued that if Nunez were more clinical, "he could be the best player in the world!" But while highlighting his biggest weakness, such a claim also attests his many strengths, as well as underlining why Klopp is so forgiving of the major flaw in Nunez's game.
Even after watching Nunez make history by hitting the woodwork four times in the same game against Chelsea in January, Klopp couldn't help but marvel at the way in which the versatile forward responded to such bitter disappointment by teeing up Luis Diaz for a tap-in.
"Think you are in his boots, how that feels," Klopp said. "Missing a penalty, you could see it at half-time, he was really upset with himself. Then, setting up in a really important moment the fourth goal, because 3-2 or 4-1 is a big difference, that makes him really the player he is for us. The rest will come, definitely."
Tellingly, it's a view shared by former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who admitted on after the same game at Anfield that Nunez was "a nightmare for [defenders] to play against, whether he scores or not. He runs you into bad places, he's aggressive, he's a handful who will end up getting goals at this club." And they are starting to arrive, in fairness.