Liverpool have moved a step closer to Premier League and Champions League glory this week, and one man has been at the centre of their success.
Arne Slot’s side extended their lead over second-placed Arsenal to 16 points following a 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday.
The result means Liverpool now require only six more victories to secure a second Premier League title in five years.
They also secured a snatch-and-grab 1-0 win over PSG on Wednesday, giving them a healthy lead ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League second leg at Anfield.
And one man has been at the centre of both of these successes.
Darwin Nunez has been a problem since signing for Liverpool
Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez hasn’t had everything his own way since joining Liverpool in the summer of 2022.
The 25-year-old has at times been criticised for poor finishing, particularly considering he cost a club record £85 million when signing from Benfica.
The arrival of Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement last summer cast more doubt over his long-term future on Merseyside.
In fact, Nunez started only one of Liverpool’s first seven league matches of the season and has found the net on a measly seven occasions so far this term.
Yet, the club still rejected a reported £62 million bid from Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. Al Hilal were also reportedly interested in securing his signature.
Darwin Nunez has shown Liverpool were right to reject Saudi bids in January
Any interest in Nunez was knocked back by Liverpool, reportedly due to a lack of time in finding an adequate replacement.
The poor injury record of fellow forward Diogo Jota also remained a concern. The Portuguese international has been limited to 18 league appearances so far this season, eight of which were from the bench.
All of this has meant Nunez has continued to be of use for Slot during the second half of the campaign and the Uruguayan has responded in trumps.
Two late goals in a 2-0 win at Brentford back in January saw Liverpool secure three vital points to maintain their lead at the league summit.
Nunez has also been at the centre of his side’s two wins this week, providing an assist for Harvey Elliott’s late winner in Paris before levelling the score against Southampton on Saturday. He also won the penalty from which Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool’s second just four minutes later.
The forward remains a raw talent but, should Liverpool go on to win the league as expected, his efforts in games against the likes of Brentford and Southampton will have played a pivotal role.
There can also be no telling how significant the assist against PSG will be should Liverpool also go deep in the Champions League.
All in all, while Nunez’s Liverpool career may still come to an end in the summer, he’s certainly played his part in red this season.
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