Do remember Salah’s first season, was utterly crazy but as a fan most of us were saying he could have scored double what he did most games.
Nunez has had a good start, I think his header that was potentially off was worse than the first time volley.
I’ve always said he will get 25 goals in all competitions.
After Salah’s first season, I thought he would probably drop to around 25 goals a season. With teams knowing him/defending him better, etc. And I was totally fine with it, as long as it’s consistent, which it is.
Darwin more having to fill Mane’s shoes. I remember when Mane joined. Instant difference in the side. As others have mentioned about Nunez, stretched the field consistently. Scored 13 PL goals his first campaign. Nunez is actually on pace for that but could probably hit a few more if he improves the finishing.
If I have my math correct, he’s scored 5 PL goals in 10 matches. With 23 matches remaining, he’s on pace to score 17-18 in a season, not bad for his first season.
You havent added the law of good fortune into that equation so by my math, he’s on track to score between 50-51.
He’s absolutely class this lad. The finishing will come with time. I prefer someone who impacts an game positively but is inefficient in front of goal to someone who takes more of their chances but contributes nothing to the team.
From what I’ve seen of this guy to date, I am fully convinced he will become very very special indeed… He has a tenacity, grit and determination seldom seen in a forward in this modern era. As for his missed chances to date, practice makes perfect but I think what needs factoring into some of these efforts - is that they are arriving after he has just made another one of many 40m sprints to get on the end of them… He is most definitely not in the Gary Lineker goal hanging type of tap-in…
Not trying to compare too much, but I remember Cavani used to miss quite a lot of easy chances. Thing is, he had the physical and mental attributes to be a constant pain in the arse for opponents. Just kept getting there and by sheer amount of times, naturally still had certain skills to get into high goalscoring numbers. Nunez is a different type, but I feel he will always have a % of actions where he will look like a beginner or something. Time will tell if he will merit to be a protagonist striker here, that will also depend on how Liverpool are doing overall, etc.
Because they both started like a house on fire, blasting in goals left right and centre…and that first impression carried them through lean patches.
And Darwin is following in Mané’s illustrious wake
Well said long sprints before a chance can effect the outcome
Klopp on Nunez’s performances:
“It’s all about staying relaxed in this moment. If strikers don’t have chances then it’s a real problem. He is an exceptional talent. The rest will come & that’s how it is. He has the quality and the right attitude. Everything will be ok with him.”
Should’ve said Suarez.
I’m sure he would have if he was on his way to national team training.
Our Darwin is a solid teammate that way.
He’s the kind of teammate you’d go into battle with any day!
The only way is up….
Among the players in Europe’s top 10 leagues with 500 or more minutes played this season, Nunez ranks first for shots per 90 minutes (6.0), but 99th for goals per 90 minutes (0.57).
We’ve scored 7 in the last 3 games with Nunez being, by an absolute mile, our most creative player.
Clearly he’s the problem.
If it was a Firmino type player creating all of these chances the perception would be very different.
The lad is fine.
I don’t like the narrative that is building around him. It has a grain of truth, as he hasn’t got enough goals just yet, but as ever, they take it and run a mile with it, while overlooking what a good player Darwin Nunez already is.
Klopp knows. I loved his comment about Lewandowski and how he missed a lot of chances, but then when he settled down a bit, whoosh.
That is coming with Nunez. And in the meantime, he is a very threatening player and well worth his place in the side.
I think Gakpo will add some much needed goalscoring threat when he is introduced, and in turn, I suspect Nunez might get a little more opportunity to score himself.
Bottom line: the lad is fine. I’m glad he is here.
Well, if there’s one similarity he has with Firmino, it’s that his chance creation is miles better than his finishing. That second chance he created for Salah yesterday… More of that please, and less of that wayward finishing from him and Salah.
