Darwin Nunez’s late heroics at St. James Park prior to the international break have garnered plaudits from Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker.
Before Nunez entered the game, Liverpool was down 1-0 against Newcastle United and the odds were severely against them after Virgil van Dijk was sent out in the first half.
In order to make an attacking substitution in the 77th minute, Jurgen Klopp pulled Alexis MacAllister from the game. Despite the short notice and the fact that he was down a player, Nunez inspired the necessary change.
Just four minutes after being brought on, the 24-year-old scored his first of the game with a scorching finish into the side netting at the far post.
His second strike, to win the game, was a carbon copy of the first and sent Liverpool players and fans into delirium as the Reds stole three points from Eddie Howe’s men.
Liverpool has 10 points and is currently third in the Premier League standings going into the upcoming round of games.
What remarks regarding Nunez did Shearer and Lineker make?
It’s wonderful to see Nunez receiving some of the supporter appreciation he has been receiving ever since signing his £140,000 per week contract with the team in June 2022.
Shearer, who holds the Premier League record for goals scored, praised Nunez to Lineker on the podcast The Rest is Football.
Even if Nunez will continue to miss opportunities, Lineker informed supporters that his placement is positive while praising the former Benfica player for his clinical finishing.
Nunez entered the scene, Shearer said. “His two finishes were incredible. Even if they were half chances, I’m not sure. Pope had no chance at all because both of them were in the right corner.
Lineker continued: “Cause I see a striker… he’s rapid he gets a lot of chances and last season he missed a lot of chances.
“For me the most important thing about goal scorers and the ones that are more natural are the ones that get a lot of chances.
“He seems to get himself into the position to miss if you like and to be a really good goal scorer you will inevitably miss chances.
“Obviously last season the percentage rates of his finishing wouldn’t have been as he liked.
“There’s definitely a massive goal scorer in there,” Lineker finished by saying.
I agree”, Shearer added. ” Last season – although he kept missing so many chances – it didn’t seem to bother him.
“There’s an arrogance about him, in a good way, that he just thinks ‘sod it’ I don’t care.
“I’m still gonna get in there and that has to be a good thing because the more times you’re in there [ the box] the more you’re gonna score.”
Could Nunez repay Liverpool fans’ patience?
Like I noted earlier, Nunez hardly had a bad season at all given the circumstances.
Now, with Klopp’s squad looking more likely to challenge, it could mean an increase in goals for Nunez and if his cameo against Newcastle is anything to go by, more goals are on their way.
While he didn’t score himself, Nunez was a menace against Aston Villa in the game right before the squad broke up for the internationals.
It was the perfect game for the centre-forward given Unai Emery now sets his Villa side up with a very high line.
It was an invitation to Liverpool to demonstrate their attacking class and with so much space to exploit, Nunez had a field day with his runs in behind.
It was his shot against the post which Matty Cash was unable to deal with, resulting in Liverpool’s second of the day and with Wolves away up next, Klopp seems to have little choice but to start Nunez again.
