Darwin Nunez is set for a fight for a place in Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool team next season, with his manager's comments hinting at a preference for certain players among his forward ranks.
Nunez has started 19 Premier League matches this season, with the £85million signing from Benfica scoring nine goals for Liverpool. However, the recent return from injury of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz has seen a drop in the amount of minutes given to the 23-year-old, who has not played 90 minutes in a match since February.
The Reds' record signing has shown a good eye for goal in his first season at the club, but has seen more action due to the amount of injuries suffered by those around him. Long-term injuries to the likes of Jota and Diaz meant that the Uruguayan has often had to play in a left-wing role as well as in a more natural central position.
Cody Gakpo also joined the club in January, meaning that there was an extra player to compete with, providing Klopp with strong depth in forward areas. A return to their full contingent began with a 6-1 win at Leeds, with Diaz returning from a long-term lay-off- a win that triggered a run of six successive victories to inspire a late season surge for the top four places.
Speaking on the return of Diaz, Klopp revealed in an interview with the club's official website his love for the Colombian winger. He said: "He's so football smart, moving in the right areas, naturally defending from his position, goal threat, speed, cheeky. Very, very special player, I have to say. We missed him a lot."
Klopp continued to explain how he had missed certain players and how welcome their respective returns were. However, he hinted at a 'difficult' position for Nunez due to his status as a 'finisher' rather than being a creative player like those around him.
"We missed Diogo Jota as well – everybody realised when he came back how good he is." Klopp continued. Bobby (Firmino) with a little injury here and there, Darwin [is] new, which is then obviously really difficult to get into a team, especially when you are the finisher of situations. The other boys have to create in a lot of moments – we didn't create a lot or not enough, or not clear enough.
"There are a few explanations for our situation but you have to take life like it is and make the best of it, and that's what you do in football as well."
Both Jota and Firmino have produced more assists (four) than Nunez (three) having played less minutes this season. Meanwhile, Gakpo has also been able to equal Nunez's tally following his January arrival from PSV but only Mohamed Salah can top his Premier League goals tally of nine, albeit with Firmino matching him despite having played fewer matches.
