Darwin Nunez and Liverpool can learn from Miguel Almiron's renaissance at Newcastle United this season, according to Anfield great John Barnes.
Nunez has endured an up-and-down start to life on Merseyside since making the initial £64m switch from Benfica in June, returning an impressive nine goals and four assists in 20 outings but also being sent off on his home debut and sometimes being wasteful in front of goal.
The Reds' 3-1 Boxing Day victory at Aston Villa saw Nunez - just like he had done at the Etihad against Manchester City days before - fail to add to his tally for the campaign as he was guilty of spurning a handful of gilt-edged chances.
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Such has been the nature of his start to life in the Premier League, opposition supporters continued their mocking of the 23-year-old despite what was an otherwise excellent display.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was quick to hail Nunez after the win over Villa, labelling the forward's performance as 'exceptional', while former Republic of Ireland international Andy Townsend named him as his man of the match during his duty as Amazon Prime's co-commentator.
However, Barnes, who played for Newcastle as well as the Reds during his career, believes patience is vital to Nunez's success at Anfield, and that the player himself, along with his team-mates supporters, can examine the success of Almiron, who is enjoying the finest season of his career on Tyneside.
The Paraguay international has scored nine goals in 16 Premier League games - as many as he had managed in his previous 110 outings for the Magpies.
"Well once again, similar to Darwin Nunez, when Miguel Almiron was missing chances and not playing well, the fans stuck with him, the players stuck with him," said Barnes, speaking to BonusCodeBets. "The team started to play well and now you can see, the goal he scored against Leicester, he had the composure. Before, he was missing those chances.”
Having penned a six-year contract with Liverpool in June, realistically there will be no immediate expectation for Nunez to evolve into the finished article overnight. Instead, those at Anfield will be realistic to the fact that his acclimatisation to a new league is by no means a seamless one.
While plenty of opposition fans have used Nunez's at times challenging start to life in England as a stick to beat him with, Kopites have instead backed their new signing, which was evident when he departed the field at Villa Park to a rendition of his now recognised terrace chant.
“I think Nunez can look at that situation and say that he’s been through something similar and with the right support, because Almiron is a good player, as is Darwin Nunez, you can gain more confidence," added Barnes, “When you’re giving a hundred percent, the players, the manager and the fans keep supporting you, that’s what’s happened to Almiron.
“He (Almiron) hasn’t become a better player all of a sudden. That talent has always been there but it’s that confidence he’s gained from the support of the fans, the players and the manager.”
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