Liverpool has a prolific forward who only needs 62 minutes to make his mark which is impressively putting even Erling Haaland’s numbers to shame this season.
Over a year ago now when Liverpool and Manchester City needed a new number nine, the two sides went for two starkly different options. City decided to pursue the efficient machinery that is Erling Haaland, while Jürgen Klopp went for the raw maverick that is Darwin Núñez.
As you’d expect, inevitably the two drew comparisons as soon as they arrived at their new clubs. But for a while at least it seemed like Haaland was the clear winner of the two, especially, if you compare the duo’s debut season. There can be no denying what Haaland did was superhuman for Manchester City last season.
But now it’s Núñez’s time to turn the tables and surpass his Norwegian counterpart. Those who thought that the race between the two was over after just one season clearly haven’t followed the script of the Uruguayan’s career.
Núñez is a slow starter. Unlike Haaland, he eases into the race and takes his time. In the end, a player’s career is a marathon, not a sprint, and Núñez is proving that exact point this season.
Yet again the Uruguayan came on for Liverpool after excelling against Brazil while on international duty, and made the difference as his introduction gave Liverpool a new lease of life. The pace and the power he possesses just gives the Reds a perpetual threat, and it was evident towards the end of the game as he sprinted away to set up Mohamed Salah for a brace and the final scoreline.
Another goal contribution means Núñez is averaging a goal or an assist every 62.3 minutes for Liverpool in all competitions this season. An extremely impressive number and one that is even putting Haaland’s own figures to shame so far, with the Norwegian averaging a return at ‘just’ every 104.4 minutes this season.
For Uruguay, his numbers since September have been even better as Núñez has scored a goal or made an assist every 59.6 minutes, with two goals and three assists in four games. There is no doubt now that Núñez is starting to explode in not just a Liverpool shirt but at international level as well. The fact that he can maintain his form for both club and country is a good indication this is not just a temporary purple patch but something he can continue delivering consistently.
Haaland may have had the better of him in the first season. So far though, it looks like Núñez may just get the better of the Norwegian this time around.