Darwin's evolution: Nunez must start for Liverpool
FT Desk
- 6 Aug 2022 15:16 BST
- 3 min read
Darwin Nunez has come off the bench to score for Liverpool in their last two competitive games. It's high time he started ahead of Roberto Firmino following his €100 million arrival from Benfica.
Darwin Nunez vs. Erling Haaland is a conversation that has dominated pre-season with last year's top two - Liverpool and champions Manchester City - spending big money to bolster their attacks. But so far for Reds fans, it has become Darwin vs. Firmino.
Firmino started last Saturday's Community Shield meeting with City - a 3-1 win for Liverpool at the King Power Stadium - and duly drew a blank before Nunez came off the bench to score the third goal in injury time.
Goal. Assist. Perfect Premier League introduction for Darwin Nunez 💪 pic.twitter.com/dknnFKvZuR
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 6, 2022
When Jurgen Klopp made one change for Liverpool's Premier League opener against Fulham, it was simply the fit-again Alisson replacing Adrian in goals. Darwin was once again on the bench.
Klopp trusts Firmino
"Bobby's a baller," Klopp said when interviewed pre-game. "Nunez is more of a runner and we have other runners on the pitch. It's just about the profile of the opponents."
Darwin replaced Firmino soon after half-time and less than 15 minutes later had opened his Premier League account, converting beautifully from a low Mo Salah cross. Salah also found the target and Liverpool, having twice gone behind, escaped with a 2-2 draw.
Nunez is, incidentally, the first player since Daniel Sturridge in 2012 to score in each of his first two competitive games for Liverpool.
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Liverpool showed one short week ago that they are capable of beating City in one-off games, but they will be playing catch-up already if Pep Guardiola's side beat West Ham as expected on Sunday. If Klopp wants to keep pace, he should get said 'runner' on from the start.
Darwin scored a league-high 26 goals in 28 games for Benfica last season, and any suggestion that he couldn't do it at a higher level than the Portuguese top-flight were roundly dispelled when he also plundered six goals in 10 Champions League games.
Liverpool have since confirmed that - Nunez has a goal every 35 minutes he has played for them so far. If Bobby is a baller...
