In the 65th minute, Darwin Nunez had an unbelievable miss, and just a minute later, he was substituted off the field. Was HLV Jurgen Klopp furious with his player? Not at all. He seemed pleased with this cheerful lad who couldn’t quite deliver the goods!
Toulouse was the green fodder for Klopp’s side in the third round of the Europa League group stage. With such an underwhelming opponent, Klopp fielded a second-string team, with Salah, Van Dijk, Alisson, Szoboszlai, and Mac Allister left on the bench. Players like Nunez, who haven’t had much playing time, needed to make the most of this opportunity to impress their German coach.
And in his 66 minutes on the field, Nunez showcased his abilities’ best and worst. His first-half goal was fantastic, but it was entirely overshadowed by an unbelievable moment in the second half.
Nunez had a solo run down the left wing, beating both defenders and goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, but when faced with an open goal, he managed to hit the post. Fortunately for Nunez, his teammate Ryan Gravenberch followed up with a goal, making it the fourth for Liverpool right after.
A fan commented: “Nunez brings some inspiring moments, dribbling like Messi and then finishing like… Lukaku.” After that incident, Nunez could only smile about it. Fortunately, he had a prior goal to his name; otherwise, he might have been subject to some “banter.”
However, despite being the subject of online jests, Nunez still managed to impress Klopp. “Nunez played remarkably,” Klopp shared. “Honestly, at that moment, I didn’t care whether he hit the post because everything before that was awe-inspiring.”
Klopp wasn’t wrong, and everyone should focus on Nunez’s performance leading up to that moment. His best qualities were displayed, from his speed, technique, and power to his determination and tenacity. Nunez’s ability to apply pressure through his actions and words could intimidate the opposition.
On a day of brilliance, Nunez blended Fernando Torres’ speed and Luis Suarez’s trickery with a touch less pragmatism. Nunez’s mind tends to wander, leading him into surreal realms and causing him to forget the present. He plays with a need for inspiration but often lets emotions dictate, resulting in entirely contrasting actions within the same sequence.
Regardless, with his potential, Nunez remains a precious gem. With careful polishing, Nunez can further develop and become even more outstanding. The £80 million that Liverpool once spent on Nunez doesn’t seem too excessive anymore.
