Lucas Leiva has tipped Darwin Nunez to build on an encouraging first season at Liverpool after learning all about the striker through Luis Suarez.
Nunez scored 15 goals in all competitions during his maiden season at Anfield following an initial £64m switch from Benfica 12 months ago and he described Suarez as "an idol" earlier this month after becoming close with him on Uruguay duty.
Suarez, who spent three-and-a-half-years as Lucas's team-mate at Liverpool, played up top with Nunez at the World Cup back in December and has followed his compatriot's career closely since he made his professional debut for Penarol in his homeland six years ago.
Lucas, who spent 10 years with the Reds before joining Lazio in 2017, revealed to the club's official website that Suarez has been revealing all about Nunez's qualities and the recently-retired Brazilian is expecting more from the centre forward this coming campaign.
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"[Suarez] told me that Darwin is a shy boy, very calm, very quiet, but a player that wants to improve all the time," Lucas said. "He's a goalscorer, we have no doubt about that. With his pace as well, I think it will be important to help him achieve what he wants this season.
"Luis has done really well and I'm very close to him now here in Brazil. Darwin in his first season, I think he was great. We know how difficult it is to come and play, the demands are really high, the way Liverpool play is different. So I think he's done well.
"Of course in the second season we are all looking forward to seeing him improve again, because he's young, he's fast and can score goals. Hopefully this year will be an even better season for him."
Liverpool return to pre-season training on Saturday July 8 with Nunez expected to join up with his colleagues the following week.
