Darwin Núñez has endured lingering questions about his skills and preparation for top-flight English football following his £64m move from Benfica in the summer.
Despite initially struggling to make his mark in the Premier League, the Uruguay international appears to have taken some notable steps in his Liverpool career, earning him some comparisons to one of Jurgen Klopp’s former strikers, Robert Lewandowski.
However, realizing those comparisons may well depend on the player ignoring the constant questions provided by the media and fans.
“There are a lot of similarities to be honest. Yes, I think Lewy would tell the same story,” the 55-year-old told reporters at his pre-match press conference (via the Mirror).
“We had shooting sessions where one didn’t finish. We had bets all the time for 10 euros: ‘if you score more than 10 times I’ll pay you 10, if you don’t you have to pay me’.
“My pocket was full of money. It’s about staying calm. When you see potential, stay calm. It’s so hard in a world we live in. Because you (the media) ask and make a big fuss about everything, then the followers, social media and all this kind of stuff, the more you can turn that off the better. is.
“I think we can all agree that the potential is so obvious. Everything is alright? No.
“I think it’s clear when you see the second chance, the big chance in the second half (against Villa) he can run a bit at an angle and then he has freedom of choice, all these kinds of things. But everything is coming. You do it like this, the next time you do it like this.
“I had this situation with Lewy but it’s not just Lewy. He’s the obvious comparison, I get it. It’s just about staying calm and I’m super calm. The team is also calm, the team is completely convinced and that’s great. Let’s hope everyone, including him, stays healthy and then everything will be fine.”
The 23-year-old has a lot of growing to do to approach the Polish star’s phenomenal goalscoring record, although early signs certainly look positive.
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With 13 goal contributions in 20 games, keen fans will rightly point out that Núñez owns the exact same record as Bobby Firmino this term (albeit in one fewer game).
That’s no small feat for the Brazilian’s abilities, though some may ask questions about what Liverpool got for their £64m initial fee (not to mention the £21m worth of add-ons attached).
The value is, as evidenced by Klopp’s comments, clear for the German tactician with the ex-Penarol hitman proving a constant threat in the box and providing game-changing chances (as highlighted by Stefan Bajcetic’s goal against Aston Villa). even if you don’t finish them. out of himself.
Nunez isn’t the finished product, but if he can continue to shut out all the white noise around him and take his manager’s advice, you can bet his house his numbers will improve.
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