Darwin Nunez grabbed the headlines on Saturday as his two goals helped Liverpool to a 3-1 win at home to Southampton.
The Uruguayan showed every bit of his endearingly chaotic qualities in the two goals that took his side from 1-1 to 3-1 and eventual victory. Roberto Firmino opened the scoring early on before Che Adams, but it was Nunez - served brilliantly by Harvey Elliott and then Andy Robertson - whose killer instinct handed Jurgen Klopp's side a fourth consecutive win in all competitions and a comforting dash of optimism to take into the World Cup break.
Liverpool ended the day in sixth, and will remain there for the next six weeks if Brighton fail to beat Aston Villa this afternoon. Most importantly, they could kick off their Boxing Day trip to Villa Park with seven points between them and fourth place.
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Here's what some of the national media had to say on Nunez and Liverpool.
Richard Jolly, via The Independent
"When Darwin Nunez first lined up for Liverpool at Anfield, he exited early and in disgrace. As he heads off to the World Cup, it is in form and in the hearts of many of their fans. He departed with the Kop singing his name in celebration, while there is a mural of him outside the Anfield Road Stand.
"As his attention turns to Uruguay, Nunez signed off with a first brace for his new club. If few have as disastrous a start as him, given his dismissal on his home debut for headbutting Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen, Nathan Jones was condemned to defeat on his bow as Southampton manager. They are destined to spend Christmas in the relegation zone.
"But Nunez is proof fortunes can change. Much of the story of Liverpool ’s season so far can be told through him and, after that awful opening impression, he has made a more positive stamp in the last five weeks. His double took his tally to seven goals in his last 10 games. His performance showed his capacity to wreak havoc.
"The rampaging bull in Liverpool’s attack proved Napoli’s late nemesis and tormented Tottenham. Now he was the scourge of Southampton."
Neil Jones, via GOAL
"So much for 'the new Andy Carroll'. With each passing game, such infantile comparisons look ever more absurd. Nunez is now only two goals shy of Carroll's tally for Liverpool, his first-half brace taking him to nine in all competitions. That they have come in only nine starts (18 appearances total), tells you everything about the Uruguayan's quality and, perhaps more importantly, his potential.
"The 23-year-old is an absolute magnet for chances - he is averaging more than six shots a game so far - and he took two of the three that came his way here, volleying in with his left foot from Elliott's astute pick-out for 2-1, before arriving perfectly to slide home Robertson's low cross for his second. Just as impressive, though, were the signs that his all-round game, criticised harshly during the early weeks of the season, is improving. Here, Nunez didn't just look like a goalscorer or a chaos-bringer. He looked like a £64m footballer.
"His superb, swept cross from the left should have brought a goal for Salah, while his gorgeous backheel opened up a chance for Firmino. There was a crossfield diagonal from left to right onto Salah's chest, a show of strength and a Cruyff-turn to evade Romeo Lavia in midfield, and certainly enough pressing and tracking to earn the appreciation of the Kop. They chanted his name when he went off, three minutes from time. Job done.
"Next stop Qatar. You wouldn't want to be facing Uruguay, on this evidence."
Paul Joyce, via The Times
"The move just before the interval started when Thiago Alcântara pirouetted away from his own goal and threaded a forward pass to Roberto Firmino. Andrew Robertson, overlapping on the left, added impetus and by the time Darwin Núñez applied a poacher’s finish, Liverpool had unpicked Southampton with three passes and travelled half the length of the pitch.
"Jürgen Klopp and his side have finished the first segment of this peculiar season occupying positions they would rather not be in. The Liverpool manager was sitting in the stands as he served a touchline ban and his players headed into the break for the World Cup sitting outside the top four.
"Still, in that moment when they plundered a third goal to bring breathing space against Southampton, there was enough sparkle to suggest that when their schedule resumes, and some high-profile absentees return, the prospect of salvaging something from their campaign is real.
"Certainly, the growing impact of Núñez continues to whet the appetite. Two clinical goals ensured Nathan Jones’s first match as a Premier League manager proved as challenging as he might have expected."
Chris Bascombe, via The Telegraph
"Darwin Nunez has shown he can be a killer in front of goal on the pitch and slayer of malicious chants off it.
"Remember the jibes about him being ‘the s--- Andy Carroll’ that shadowed Liverpool’s record purchase in those awkward early moments of his Premier League career? They sound as ill-judged as a winter World Cup now.
"Nunez is only two goals behind Carroll's Liverpool tally of 11, the not-so-subtle difference being the ex-Newcastle United forward reached that tally in 56 appearances over two injury hit, unconvincing Kop years. Nunez struck another two on his 18th appearance for the club against Southampton. If the prolific Norwegian down the M62 was not mentioned every time Nunez’s transfer fee is referenced, the start of his Liverpool career would be viewed through a different lens.
"Like at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, Nunez is evolving as a dashing left-side attacker. At his most effective he puts one in mind of an extremely raw Thierry Henry. For the opposition, it is a nightmare as the South American relies exclusively on footballing instinct, chasing his own passes more than dribbling and yearning to maximise goalscoring opportunities."
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