Liverpool faced Red Bull Salzburg in their latest friendly on Wednesday night, losing by one goal to nil. Jurgen Klopp was satisfied with his team's second-half performance but in the first half, he admitted to not supporting his new striker enough.
“Darwin [Nunez] was much too often alone. Everybody dropped, everybody was involved in the build-up but too wide and we could only pass the ball to Darwin in the box," said the German. "He had his moments and nearly scored, but he needs much more support around him.”
The matter will not concern Klopp too much, it is simply something for his players to work on. However, the slight disconnect for 45 minutes against the Austrian champions does capture the stylistic difference between Nunez and Roberto Firmino.
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In the latter, the Reds benefited from a no.9 who never really operated like a true striker on the pitch. The number on his back almost acted as a smokescreen, with Firmino playing more in the mould of a no.10 on a typical day.
Klopp once described him as his team's 'connector' while also stating that he plays several different instruments within Liverpool's orchestra.
Firmino is known for drifting into deeper spaces, linking with his midfield teammates and proving a glue of sorts in the final third, with Harvey Elliott once describing him as the club's most underrated player.
"Being around Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson, the list goes on, all of the squad are amazing," said the teenager. "Which one impressed me the most? Firmino. When he is on the ball, you can't get it off him. He is a joke."
Firmino's playing style has allowed Liverpool to largely avoid suffering from a disconnect up front. He never seems to be alone as he's a natural when it comes to engaging in dialog with the midfield.
After purchasing Nunez from Benfica during the summer, it was clear that Klopp was going to begin shifting towards a new dynamic in the final third, with the Uruguayan essentially doing the opposite to Firmino.
The 23 year-old is a poacher at heart. Standing around 6-foot-2, he scores plenty of headers from close range, often shoots with his first touch, and his movement in tight spaces is superb.
He will offer different perks to the man who previously spearheaded Liverpool's attack, by playing on the shoulder of defenders and constantly posing a threat in behind as opposed to coming short.
As a result of his tendency to demand through passes, Nunez almost stays away from the ball when his teammates have possession secured. He is almost a passenger who comes alive whenever the ball approaches the penalty box.
It will take time for Liverpool to adjust to their new man. Rather than working with a possession-based striker who almost plays like a midfielder, Klopp's men will have to get used to feeding a true marksman who focuses on goals and little else.
Once the Reds figure out how to maximise what Nunez offers, he will surely catch fire at Anfield.
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