Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has claimed that summer signing Darwin Nunez would have scored “20 plus” in a normal season for the Reds, urging Liverpool fans to give the Uruguayan time to adapt at Anfield.
Nunez arrived from Benfica for £70m in the summer, and has endured a tough first season on Merseyside. Though he has scored 15 goals in all competitions, he has seen red for a headbutt early in his Liverpool career and has missed a massive number of chances when well placed.
In fact, only Gabriel Jesus has a bigger underperformance on his expected goals than Nunez, who has scored 9 Premier League games when the model predicts that he should have managed 15.
Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez protests to the referee after being shown a red card.
Picture : Mark Pain / Alamy Live News 2JP58CK 15 Aug 2022 – Liverpool v Crystal Palace – Premier League – Anfield
Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez protests to the referee after being shown a red card.
Picture : Mark Pain / Alamy Live News (Alamy Stock Photo)
However, Klopp has jumped to his defence, blaming Liverpool’s more underwhelming season generally as a major factor behind Nunez’s struggles.
“Give him time to settle, it’s so difficult to come into a team which isn’t clicking”, he urged the Liverpool fans.
The German went on to make a bold claim about the future of his expensive striker.
Nunez has lost his place in recent weeks as Liverpool’s poor season has seen a sudden uptick, with six wins on the bounce putting them in with an outside chance of finishing in the top four.
They would need to win all of their remaining games, and hope that Manchester United or Newcastle drop points in two of their last three games, though a Europa League spot appears more likely for the Reds.
There will be plenty of change at Anfield this summer, with midfield a key area of reinforcements and a deal for Alexis Mac Allister reportedly in the works. Nunez is certain to stay, and will be hoping that Klopp can be proved right with his prediction to turn around a difficult period so far.
