Liverpool won’t have bought Darwin Nunez purely on the basis of his performances against them for Benfica, but they certainly have first-hand experience of how effective he can be. The Uruguayan was one of only three players to score home and away against the Reds in 2021/22.
At the Estadio do Luz, Nunez kept a very cool head when Ibrahima Konate made a mistake, looking as though he had all the time in the world to slot the ball home when he unexpectedly received it. Then, in the return match, Benfica exploited Liverpool’s high defensive line and he scored once again (after the VAR had overruled the assistant referee’s errant flag).
Being able to take advantage of defensive errors is an excellent skill, particularly as the Reds’ incessant press regularly forces opposing players into losing the ball in very dangerous areas. However, a more frequent source of chances for Nunez is likely to be through balls which split defences. Fortunately for Jurgen Klopp and his new forward, there are many players at the club who can provide them.
