Premier League legend Alan Shearer has backed Darwin Nunez to come good despite his mixed start to life in the Premier League, claiming that he has ‘everything else’ to succeed if he can remain more composed in front of goal.
Nunez has had a difficult beginning to his Liverpool career, with his goal returns punctuated by plenty of big chances missed and often resulting in Liverpool dropping points. So far, he leads the Premier League for big chances missed (15), ahead of Erling Haaland and teammate Mo Salah (12), while he has also hit the woodwork 5 times, two more than any other player.
Big chances missed by Darwin Nunez so far this season
📸: @idolastacc pic.twitter.com/31ZS8zpr0b
— #TouchlineFracas (@touchlinefracas) January 2, 2023
But, he keeps getting chances. He ranks fourth for shots on target (24) and fifth for shots (55), while his terrific pace and closing down speed have helped Jurgen Klopp’s side create plenty of chances.
And all-time leading Premier League goalscorer Alan Shearer, who managed 260 goals across stints with Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, has backed the Uruguay talent to come good and become a top striker.
“Nunez has everything else”, he explained to the Athletic. “He’s got lightning pace, which defenders hate, he gets into good spaces and he can finish well. When the ball comes to him at speed, he’s deadly. It’s when he has time to think about it; that’s when it doesn’t go right. He snatches at the ball and rushes it.”
“That’s where you just have to keep your composure. Improving this simply comes down to time and sweat in training.
With Liverpool currently eight points adrift of a spot in the Champions League next season, Reds fans will be hoping that a corner is turned sooner rather than later, but it is clear that if Nunez can add clinical finishing to his game, he will become an Anfield hero in the years to come.
