Andy Robertson reckons Darwin Nunez has the “anger” of an elite-level goalscorer.
And while the Liverpool defender dismissed the almost universal urge to compare his team-mate to Erling Haaland as “unfair”, he argued that Nunez will hit similar heights, when he acclimatises to the Premier League.
The Reds’ £85m record signing scored a fourth goal in his last four starts against Ajax, to help ease the Anfield club through the Champions League group stage, and into the hat for the knockout draw with a game to spare. As he finds his feet in English football, the Uruguayan forward is starting to excite Liverpool fans with his extravagant ‘box office’ qualities, and Robertson agrees.
Asked about the comparisons with Haaland, he said: “The only reason they are getting compared is because they play in the same position and moved in the same window.
“It is not fair on anyone. If it was vice-versa, it would not be fair on Haaland either. So look, they are two incredible players and we are delighted to have Darwin here. He is still young which everyone forgets and in front of goal he has been really clinical.
“He has maybe not played as many minutes with the three-game ban, a couple of injuries and he is still adapting…but he is getting there. He caused Ajax all sorts of problems, and they were really worried about him.”
Robertson argued that Nunez’s “goals-to-minute ratio is very good”, and he’s right. In 648 minutes of football since signing for the Mersey club, he has a goal every 107 minutes.
But his stats compare with Haaland in most other metrics. Per 90 in the Premier League, he ranks first in number of shots, first in touches in the box, first in non-penalty expected goals, and in the top five goals per 90 minutes.
And Robertson revealed that his team-mate has that key goalscorer’s mentality - a real anger when he misses a chance. ““He was really angry with himself, really disappointed with himself for missing that chance before half time against Ajax,” he explained.
“But he used that disappointment in terms of being angry and wanting to be in front of goal again. He didn’t shy away from it and scored an unbelievable header which is what good strikers do - they react.”
There is much more to come though. Nunez hinted at as much with a spectacular display at Rangers, where two audacious volleys could so easily have delivered a hat trick.
Robertson joked that he didn’t know if the 23 year old understands his Scottish accent yet, but he revealed that the forward is working hard to improve his communication with the team.
“His English is getting better, he is getting settled with his family and things like that which always helps off the pitch. There is a language barrier but you can see he is a nice guy.
“He is trying with his English and you respect that so much. He is asking us lots of questions and it will take time to get better but we are there to help him and he is a good guy.”
