SEATTLE - With less than a third of the Premier League season remaining, three teams are still in contention for this year's crown. Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal are separated by just two points. Although all three teams have had spectacular seasons up to this point, a different reality shines over each camp.
In a tricky fixture against Brentford, Arsenal was able to extend its unbeaten run thanks to a Kai Havertz game-winner in the 86th minute to make it eight wins out of eight in 2024. They are by far the team with the most goals scored in the league since the year started (33) and have stayed relatively healthy during the run-in.
Despite the fact that Mikel Arteta's team has been the best side in England in recent months, Manchester City remains as the favorite to win the league title according to the sportsbooks. The reigning champions are currently on a 12-game unbeaten streak in league play and haven't lost a domestic game since December.
In spite of all the injuries in the squad, Liverpool are somehow keeping up with the other two contenders. Their only defeat in their last 18 league games came away at Arsenal last month and their hopes for a possible 'quadruple' are still alive.
With more than 10 members of the senior squad out due to injury, Jürgen Klopp has been forced to improvise with academy players in recent weeks. After Diogo Jota's injury, Klopp's attacking options were considerably reduced and Mohamed Salah's recent injury did not help the cause.
With Liverpool fans looking for a hero amid all the injuries, a 24-year-old Uruguayan striker answered the call. Since making his return from injury, Darwin Núñez has become one of the most important players in the team, not because of his goals, but because of everything else he offers to the Liverpool attack. With Jota and Mohamed Salah missing a good amount of PL games between January and February, Núñez' movements off the ball helped Liverpool find the spaces they needed to hurt their opponents.
The Uruguayan is a shifty forward that likes to run in behind the defenses and create chaos that way. Núñez is Klopp's outlet and most difficult forward to defend, as his electric pace can punish even the slightest mistake. His ability to impact the game has been huge for the team, as he not necessarily needs the ball in order to create chaos.
His ability to stretch the opponent's defensive lines has been key in Liverpool's success this season. A proof of this is his game-winning goal against Newcastle earlier this season, where Liverpool's direct attack connects with Darwin's run to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.
Núñez has participated in 27 goals for Liverpool this season in all comps (16 goals, 11 assists), including 10 goals and seven assists in the Premier League alone. Núñez is always looking for a way to hurt the opponent, as only Manchester City's Erling Haaland (90) and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins (85) have taken more shots than the Uruguayan this campaign (84).
Although his 10 league goals might seen kind of low for his standards, Darwin has been very unlucky this season, ranking second in big chances missed (21) and leading all players with 9 shots against the woodwork this season.
Pitchside view of Darwin's superb finish 🤩 pic.twitter.com/kK2MWC0M1y
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 9, 2024
Núñez has the chance to play a huge role in Liverpool's chase for the Premier League title. After struggling with his finishing earlier in the season, seems like the last few weeks the Uruguayan has finally found his form, scoring five goals in his last six PL games. With Liverpool missing their most clinical striker until early May (Jota), Núñez will need to keep stepping up into that role, one that so far has suit him very well.
Out of his 16 goals for Liverpool in all competitions this season, six of them have been go-ahead or game-winning goals, including Liverpool's latest game-winning goal in PL history last week against Nottingham Forest, coming at the 90+9'.
Just WOW! 🤩
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 2, 2024
Incredible from @Darwinn99... and that away end 👏 pic.twitter.com/AG6mlwkOri
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