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Darwin Nunez can be a “scary” presence for Liverpool but still needs to grow his overall game, says Reds great Jamie Carragher.
The Uruguay international got on the scoresheet in the Premier League side’s 2-0 win over Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday, for his sixth goal of the season across all competitions.
Nunez had a tough start to life at Anfield with a red card against Crystal Palace seeing him serve an early season ban, but is starting to show his potential on Merseyside.
With more attempts on a per-90-minute basis (6.7) in the English top-flight this term than anyone else, Carragher suggests the stats back the influence the 23-year-old can have on matches.
“It’s really interesting watching Nunez,” he told CBS. “He comes on and he makes a huge impact. He hasn’t set the world alight, he hasn’t done what [Erling] Haaland’s done and people would’ve expected more for the price-tag.
“But when you look at his minutes on the pitch and how many goals he’s scored per minute, his numbers are scary. He’s actually made a huge impact.”
Carragher feels that Nunez is yet to fully master his all-around game though, adding: “But there’s still something not quite there, where Jurgen Klopp is going to play him every single game.
“I think he’s got [similarities to] Fernando Torres. He’s got that power, physically, to knock defenders off, that blistering pace. But at times, maybe technically, [he is] not the best in terms of general play.”
Nunez has posted a 0.6 goal yield every 90 minutes in the Premier League this term, a ratio bettered by just seven players, while only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has a superior non-penalty xG than his 0.76.
