Gary Neville has praised the performance of Liverpool’s big-money summer signing Darwin Nunez, following Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal.
In the clash, Arsenal flew out of the blocks and took the lead inside the opening minute through Gabriel Martinelli. Liverpool drew themselves level just after the half-hour mark thanks to a well-worked Nunez goal. But Jurgen Klopp’s team conceded a sloppy second just before the break and although they were able to level things up again through Roberto Firmino in the second half, Buyako Saka’s late penalty secured all three points for the hosts.
It was a loss that left the Merseysiders 14 points adrift of the leaders and looking like a shadow of the side who were close to an unprecedented quadruple last season. Despite the wider team issues though, Neville was impressed by the performance of Uruguay international Nunez leading the Liverpool line.
On The Gary Neville Podcast, he said: "I thought he was really good, even in the difficult parts of the game for Liverpool, he was their best player, his runs were good.
"Liverpool needed a centre forward. [Sadio] Mane leaving, [Roberto] Firmino... I think people who watch him far more than I do say he was dropping off a little bit, so they had to revitalise that front three.
"They needed a centre forward. When they signed Nunez, there was this comparison between [Erling] Haaland and Nunez. I remember the headlines around that time [after the Community Shield], we all should and look at us now three months later, but that was a debate."
Sunday’s fixture was the first Premier League game in which Nunez had started since mid-August, shedding light on his difficulties at the club so far. Neville though believes some of those issues he has encountered can be attributed to the sending off against Crystal Palace.
"That sending off he [Nunez] had against Crystal Palace has knocked him, I think there’s no doubt". Neville added though: "I thought there were really goo
d signs from Nunez [against Arsenal], I thought he looked a real handful up there, making good runs in behind, pressing.”
Despite it being a slow start to Nunez’s career following his £85million switch, the underlying numbers do back up some of Neville's observations in Sunday’s game.
According to Wyscout, he’s averaged 7.3 touches in the penalty area and 5.8 shots per 90 so far this season. For comparison, although he’s played more minutes, Erling Haaland is averaging 4.2 shots so far this season.
While Nunez’s average, particularly in terms of shots, is sure to come down the more minutes he plays, it’s still sure to be among the highest across the Premier League and his good work in the final third should start delivering goals like it did on Sunday.
