Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has thrown his backing behind Darwin Nunez to score goals and explained why he has no major concerts over Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Nunez returned to the fold for Saturday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park after serving a three-match ban for his red card on his home debut against Crystal Palace. The former Benfica man lost his cool and headbutted Joachim Andersen, which earned him an instant dismissal in the August 15 clash.
But the forward couldn’t have the impact he would have liked as Liverpoo l recorded a goalless draw. However, he did force a superb save from Jordan Pickford during the closing stages of the first-half.
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Nunez, who joined Liverpool during the summer transfer window in a deal that £85million in add-ons depending on individual success, ranging from reaching appearance landmarks, scoring goals to winning the Champions League, has so far scored two goals and registered one assist in four appearances for the Reds.
“It is clear injuries in midfield have been unsettling, while Darwin Núñez is still settling into the club,” Benitez told The Times.
“His recent sending off has impacted upon how quickly he has been able to build-up an understanding with new team-mates, but the positive from that situation is that he knows not to become involved with defenders again.
"I also think he will score a lot of goals for Liverpool and that he provides them with a different dynamic to Roberto Firmino.
“Firmino likes to drop off, create superiority in the middle of the pitch and help his team-mates score whereas Nunez is someone who always wants to be in the penalty box. He needs a little time and Liverpool just need a goal to boost their confidence.”
The Reds have drawn half of their games so far after the stalemate against Everton at the weekend - although both sides had plenty of chances to win the game.
Liverpool currently sit seventh in the table, six points behind leaders Arsenal and five behind reigning champions Man City. But despite their slow start to the campaign, Benitez is not worried for his former club.
He said: “There has been a lot of scrutiny on Liverpool’s start to the season. This is not an easy game, especially when the crowd is behind Napoli because the players feed off that.
“But whatever the result, I don’t have major concerns about Jürgen Klopp’s side. People have asked me, ‘Are they tired from last season?’ Just look at the number of chances they had in the final 20 minutes against Everton and that answers that.
“There is increasing focus on Mohamed Salah. Again, had his shot gone in at the end of the Merseyside derby, rather than hitting the post, that would not be mentioned.”
Liverpool return to action tonight when they take on Napoli in their opening Champions League group game. And speaking ahead of the clash at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Benitez has named Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the player Klopp's side should be wary of.
He said: "Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be an unfamiliar name to many people, but he poses a huge threat to Liverpool.
"He is a young player who has made an enormous impact since joining Napoli in the summer from Georgian side Dinamo Batumi. He had previously been at Rubin Kazan but returned to his homeland after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
"Speaking to some friends in Italy over the weekend, they said to me that he is the best player in Italy right now. Other people might put forward different players, but what everyone can agree on is how well Kvaratskhelia has taken to Serie A.
"He has been playing as a winger from the left, but he can use both feet, he can dribble on both flanks, he can give passes and he can finish. He has pace and he wants to make his mark in matches.
"At the weekend, he scored the winning goal against Lazio in Napoli’s 2-1 success. That was his fourth goal in five appearances. At 21, he is clearly an excellent talent and that he is doing so well so soon after moving to Italy highlights his mentality."
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