A 7-0 victory over a major rival is always going to unearth a goldmine of trivia. Much of it will be niche, lots of it largely pointless, but all of it glorious if your team is on the right side of the score line.
Liverpool supporters will have been lapping up stats and facts continually since their side dismantled Manchester United on Sunday. Way down the list of numerical minutiae was something related to Darwin Nunez’ first goal, the Reds’ second of the afternoon.
It was the 100th headed goal Liverpool have scored in the Premier League since the start of Jurgen Klopp’s first full season in charge in 2016/17. Nunez added a second later in the game, meaning the Reds have netted at least 27 more headers than any other team in the division over the last seven seasons. They have been streets ahead of the competition in this regard.
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Jordan Henderson assisted the first headed goal of this period, for Roberto Firmino at Swansea City, so it was fitting the skipper teed up Nunez for the 101st, against United. As well as helping the team reach an unusual landmark, the Uruguayan continued his record of contributing important goals with his head for Liverpool.
Nunez marked his debut, in the Community Shield, by securing a 3-1 win by stooping low to convert a pass from Andy Robertson in stoppage time. The former Benfica man had won a penalty when a headed effort was handled earlier in the game, too.
He then settled the home clash with West Ham United by heading home a Kostas Tsimikas cross, before scoring similarly thanks to a delivery from first-choice left-back Robertson against Ajax the following week. With his brace against United, Nunez has three headed goals in the Premier League, putting him joint-fourth in the standings for this season.
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His ability in the air may not have been that apparent to Liverpool supporters before he joined the club. While Nunez was one of only three players to score home and away against the Reds last season – more trivia for you – his goals were fierce finishes from his right foot.
Yet his total of five headers was the second most in Portugal’s Primeira Liga in 2021/22, and more than anyone mustered in the English top flight. While Harry Kane has seven this season, illustrating Nunez’ efforts can be bettered, the last Liverpool player to get five was Virgil van Dijk in 2019/20, the last forward Sadio Mane (with six) one year earlier.
The 23-year-old, no doubt aided by a better standard of team-mate, is improving in the air. In league and Europe, he scored a headed goal every 434 minutes last season, yet his rate for the Reds (in all competitions) has improved to one every 380.
What makes this more interesting is that Nunez appears very efficient in this regard, when his general finishing has been questioned throughout his time with Liverpool. The Uruguay international’s four headed strikes in the two main competitions have come from 15 efforts collectively valued at 1.8 expected goals (per FBRef).
Tellingly, he has generated 2.8 xG in the post-shot model from the eight on target attempts, showing that the placement of his headers has made them harder than expected to save. Just ask David de Gea if you don’t believe me on that one.
And while Nunez's small sample means we must be wary, his conversion rate of 23.1 per cent from headed shots in the league is above what the Reds’ top five scorers of headers over the last seven years have averaged. Firmino has the most goals (17) and the best hit rate (20.2 per cent of attempts scored), and then Mane, Van Dijk, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah are all further back.
Liverpool shouldn't rely upon exploiting high deliveries to Nunez, as it will only increase the tiresome Andy Carroll comparisons if nothing else. Klopp’s side absolutely need to make the most of the flying Uruguayan when the time is right though.
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