Darwin Nunez: Thierry Henry passes judgement on Liverpool’s €100m man

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 3 min read

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has everyone talking after making a summer transfer from Benfica that could be worth up to €100 million.

The 23-year-old has arrived at Anfield but has split opinion due to his hectic style and erratic finishing.

But despite this, he has seven goals in 15 games and netted against Napoli late on in a 2-0 win over Wednesday.

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Thierry Henry, who is regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever strikers, standing seventh on the all-time scoring charts, subsequently passed judgement on Nunez in his role for CBS Sports.

“What he needs is confidence and the type of confidence I’m talking about is when you’re at the club and you feel like you’re going to play week in week out, you’re a bit colder in front of the goal. Because he wants to do so much and please so many people – he wants to wow the Liverpool fans – he rushes it. He loses control of the ball instead of going back on his right foot or finish it cleanly,” Henry said.

“I went through that, when you arrive and you’re a big signing. He’s replacing Sadio Mane and that’s not easy to do. He’s overdoing it at times instead of being calm and cool.

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“He’s the type of guy, when he gets one things will come.

“Is he a finisher like Robbie Fowler? I don’t think he’s a finisher like Robbie Fowler, but not many people are. But he has goals in him.

“He’s a bit more of a handful, a bit more like an Alexis Sanchez or a young Luis Suarez. But when you start to master what you’re good at, I think he will be a handful.”

Darwin Nunez: The new Fernando Torres?

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher offered the comparison of Fernando Torres, but Henry believes it will be more difficult for Nunez to settle than it was for the Spaniard, who played for the Reds from 2007-11.

“You were playing a style of play that was perfect for Torres,” Henry explained. “It was a bit low and he was always facing the game. That would suit Darwin Nunez better, but that Liverpool side is a bit different.”

Nunez and Liverpool will next be in action on Sunday, when they face Tottenham in the Premier League, with an EFL Cup match against Derby then a home clash against Southampton to come before the World Cup break.