Darwin Núñez: Can Liverpool’s Enigmatic Forward Realise His Potential?

Liverpool continue to fly this season under the guidance of Dutchman Arne Slot who sit top of the Premier League and the Champions League, and they’ve also booked their place in the Carabao Cup Semi-Final.

Here at bettingexpert, Devang Prasad had the pleasure of catching up with former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy who spoke to us about the Liverpool attackers who continue to steer Slot’s side towards what could be a fruitful season.

• Nunez Needs Minutes If He’s To Fulfill His Potential
• Núñez Can Still Leave His Mark
• Murphy Hails Liverpool’s “Phenomenal” Goal Threat
• Díaz Edges Gakpo in Talent

Nunez Needs Minutes If He’s To Fulfill His Potential

Liverpool just can’t stop finding the back of the net this season, and with players like Mohamed Salah, Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, and Diogo Jota in their ranks, it’s hardly a surprise. Yet amidst the firepower of Liverpool’s attacking options, one name continues to puzzle fans and pundits alike: Darwin Núñez.

Now in his third season at Anfield, the Uruguayan remains something of an enigma. Despite the hefty expectations that came with his move from Benfica, Núñez has yet to hit the heights many anticipated. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes there’s potential for growth, but he questions whether Núñez will realize that potential on Merseyside.

“I think he’s got loads of room for improvement,” Murphy said. “The problem is, like any player, to improve and develop, you need minutes. And at the moment, his minutes are sporadic. But I think because he’s so different to what Liverpool have, he’s a great weapon—his physicality, his pace.”

“Will he ever get to the consistent numbers you want from a striker? I think the longer it goes on, the more people are thinking no.”

Núñez Can Still Leave His Mark

This season, Núñez has made 23 appearances and scored four goals—numbers that pale in comparison to his fellow forwards. Questions persist about whether he has what it takes to cement himself as Liverpool’s first-choice number nine. Limited opportunities have undoubtedly hindered his development, something Murphy attributes to the intense competition for attacking spots.

“I actually really like him,” Murphy said. “Like a lot of forwards, he’s a confidence player, and the more he plays, the more you can see him grow in the role. The problem he’s got is the wonderful competition Liverpool have in those areas. At the moment, it looks like the manager prefers other players, like Díaz as a withdrawn nine against Tottenham.”

“Whether Jota plays up there? Darwin’s gotta keep fighting and giving it his all, but there’s definitely room for improvement. It will be interesting, depending on Liverpool’s successes this season, to see what happens in the summer. He’s still got a long time this season to make a huge impression.”

Murphy Hails Liverpool’s “Phenomenal” Goal Threat

Liverpool’s attacking options are a dream for any manager. With Gakpo and Díaz both in fine form, the dilemma of who should start in crucial games is a headache most would envy. Murphy sees this depth as a major asset but believes Díaz’s goal threat gives him the edge in big matches.

“I think it’s quite interchangeable,” Murphy noted. “It’s interesting to see Díaz being played centrally more often. At the moment, that looks like Liverpool’s front three—Gakpo, Díaz, Salah. And I know Jota’s just got back.”

“I like both [Díaz and Gakpo] equally. They’re very different players, but personally, I think Luis Díaz is a phenomenal player. He would always be in my XI, especially in the big games, whether it’s off the left or in the middle. I think he’s probably more of a goal threat as well.”

Díaz Edges Gakpo in Talent

Cody Gakpo has been a consistent contributor this season, scoring 11 goals in 27 games and growing into his role within Liverpool’s attack. Murphy acknowledges Gakpo’s value, particularly from a tactical perspective, but argues that Díaz possesses the greater natural talent.

“But Cody, he’s a wonderful athlete who does a brilliant job defensively for the team. He is a goal threat; he just doesn’t quite have Luis Díaz’s talent. You can’t worry too much about who is number one or number two because when you’re a successful club, there are so many games—injuries, suspensions, international call-ups—there’s plenty of football for everyone to play.”

Murphy compared Liverpool’s situation to Arsenal’s, where Trossard’s impact has been more noticeable off the bench. “When Cody’s started games, he’s been brilliant. It’s more of an obvious choice for Arsenal when they pick their best XI. For Liverpool, you could argue there’s not much of a difference when one of them plays ahead of the other. And I think now, we’ll see both of them play together a lot more.”

With competition this fierce, Núñez’s fight for minutes is far from over. The coming months will determine whether he can step up and prove he belongs among Liverpool’s glittering attacking options.

Safer Gambling

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.