People judging Darwin Nunez from his first season at Liverpool may have made a ‘massive mistake.’
Nunez has been the talk of the town since Sunday, having been the star of a stunning late turnaround for Liverpool against Newcastle.
The explosive nature of the 24-year-old’s two-goal cameo has led to praise from all corners. And speaking on The Kelly & Wrighty Show yesterday, pundit Ian Wright suggested that Nunez could be about to prove a lot of people wrong.
“He’s just 24 now, he’s come from a different league to a a massive club, he’s eager to do well and you could see that with some of his finishes last season,” Wright says. “Finishes that you think ‘how’s he missed that,’ and getting himself into positions where you think ‘wow what great movement’ but can’t quite finish it off.
“If people are going to judge him on that, they’re making a big mistake, a massive mistake. Because from what I’ve seen of him, he still tries to finish like he should, he’s not tentative.
“What we saw with those two finishes, that was somebody who’s obviously worked a lot more on himself, on his basics. From that side of the pitch I’m going to hit it across the goalkeeper and bam! That’s clinical. Two really clinical finishes that they needed.
“If he’s clicked, then people are in trouble.”
Nunez ready to silence the doubters
It feels like the biggest, most important period of Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool career is upon us.
Having began the season on the bench, the Uruguayan now has the chance to stamp his authority on the Reds’ centre-forward position.
Handed the No.9 shirt before the campaign, the suggestion was that Nunez is ready for a bigger role. But so far, that hasn’t transpired.
Having been the match-winner on Sunday though, Jurgen Klopp looks set to hand him a first start of the season this weekend.
You feel that how Nunez handles that will be crucial to setting the tone for his season.
Take his chance, score a goal or two, and the feeling will be that here’s a player now about to explode. But have a quiet game with a couple of missed chances, and perhaps the £64m signing will be back on the bench.
With the confidence coursing through his veins, you’d back Darwin to go from strength to strength on Sunday. He hasn’t kicked on when the same feeling has arisen in the past though. Let’s hope this time is different and Wright is, well, right.