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View image in fullscreenAnalysisMisses, fall-outs and late goals: Darwin Núñez’s Liverpool ride was eventful one

Poised for a move to Al-Hilal, the striker will depart in the affections of many despite a hit and miss time at Anfield

It started with a goal to clinch the Community Shield against Manchester City on his Liverpool debut and a red card for a head-butt on his Anfield bow.

Darwin Núñez never reached the heights Jürgen Klopp predicted he would, but it was an eventful three-year ride that ensures the striker is poised to depart in the affections of many at Liverpool.

Klopp led the signing of Núñez before and especially after his two appearances for Benfica against Liverpool in the 2021-22 Champions League.

There was talk of Liverpool cutting their losses 12 months ago.

Instead, one of Slot’s first acts as Liverpool head coach was to have a video call with Núñez while he was on Copa América duty with Uruguay.

Getting to work on Núñez’s fragile confidence, Slot outlined how the forward would be central to his plans – literally – operating as Liverpool’s No 9 and not out on the left, where he was sometimes deployed by Klopp.

Six months later, if not before, and Liverpool’s head coach had reached the same conclusions as his predecessor.

It was not a simple case of Núñez’s erratic finishing driving Slot to distraction and falling short of the standards of a team chasing the Premier League and Champions League titles, although the latter point is undoubtedly true.

That involves the right timings, the right crosses, the right position to start from and making the right run.”

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Twenty-four hours after Slot’s admission, Núñez came off the bench to score two stoppage-time goals in a 2-0 victory at Brentford that gave Liverpool their first league win of 2025.
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