Unleashing the Beast: Darwin Nunez's Explosive Transformation at Liverpool

Darwin Nunez candidly discussed the difficulty he faced in adapting to the Premier League during his conversation with We in February. He acknowledged that it was a significant change and that the league was stronger and more competitive than he initially anticipated.

Having experienced a challenging first season in England, similar to his time at Benfica, where he also struggled initially before thriving in the second year, Nunez believes that the same pattern is unfolding for him in the Premier League.

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Recent evidence indicates that he was onto something.

Nunez concluded his inaugural season with a total of 15 goals across various competitions. The complex campaign for Liverpool wasn't a catastrophe, but his decisive goal against West Ham last Sunday marked his fourth goal in just 336 minutes of play this season. It seems that something has fallen into place.

Finishing off chances

Last season, he had a poor negative differential in the division, scoring only nine Premier League goals out of an expected 12.16. However, this time around, the situation has changed. Instead of underperforming, he is now overperforming with three goals from an expected 2.64. Although it's a small sample size, this swing is encouraging.

The recent hasty effort just before his goal against West Ham served as a stark reminder of his inconsistent performance. Nunez, as reported by Opta, has failed to convert six significant opportunities in the Premier League this season.

However, the flaws in his performance only add to his appeal among Liverpool fans. Nunez has been a beloved figure at Anfield for quite some time. Furthermore, his occasional misses are more forgiving now that he is also scoring goals consistently. Additionally, if we take into consideration his two assists in matches against Aston Villa and LASK in the Europa League, Nunez has contributed to a goal every 56 minutes on average across all competitions this season.

Since Klopp's arrival, he has been dedicated to improving his finishing skills. Nunez, who shared this information in February, mentioned that Klopp advises him to approach finishing calmly. The manager emphasizes taking an extra moment, as shooting with anger or haste always yields poor results. On the other hand, Nunez's recent achievements can be attributed to his ability to trust his instincts.

The speed at which he executed his double against Newcastle was remarkable, as both strikes were taken quickly after making runs behind the defense. His improvised, first-time finish against West Ham during Sunday's match at Anfield showcased the same ruthlessness.

Ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup victory over Leicester, Nunez was described by Klopp's assistant, Pep Lijnders, as "a player who relies purely on his intuition." However, the significant change now is that after a season to acclimate, the 24-year-old has gained a newfound level of confidence and determination to match his abilities.

Off-the-ball shifts

"The main difference," commented the Liverpool coach on Sunday, "lies in the defensive effort he invests. He has always desired it, but it was previously less organized. Now it appears much more impressive."

Nunez's dedication and productivity were never questioned, even during the most challenging moments of last season. However, Klopp's observation about its heightened effectiveness is supported by the statistics.

Nunez's pressing game has undergone a remarkable transformation, as revealed by tracking data. Compared to last season, he now records more than double the number of pressures and pressures in the final third per 90 minutes. In fact, his average of 25.3 final-third pressures stands as the division's highest.

Klopp's focus with Liverpool has always been on swiftly regaining possession after losing it. This season, their counter-pressure numbers have increased from 88 to 92 per match. One key factor in this improvement is Nunez's contribution. Klopp emphasizes the significance of midfield support from Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, stating that they play a crucial role in enhancing Nunez's off-the-ball performance.

Working in unison with Nunez, the duo positioned themselves strategically behind the striker in matchups against Aston Villa and West Ham. Their collaborative effort included effectively shutting down passing lanes and occasionally joining him in pressuring opponents.

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Jones and Szoboszlai have provided valuable support to Nunez in their off-the-ball movement. Additionally, Nunez and Mohamed Salah have formed a successful partnership on the field. A prominent instance of their collaboration occurred during the Villa game when Nunez applied pressure on Emi Martinez, subsequently teaming up with Salah to close down Pau Torres. This led to a corner kick, which resulted in Liverpool scoring their first goal.

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Nunez presses Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez

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He then joins Salah in pressurising Torres in order to force a corner

Nunez has consistently displayed a strong commitment to defensive duties.

During the early stages of the victory against West Ham, when Alexis Mac Allister carelessly surrendered possession in the opposing team's half, Nunez swiftly rushed back to his own penalty area, even though he was ahead of his teammate by a distance of 10 yards. Within a matter of seconds, Nunez closed the gap and successfully disarmed Michail Antonio.

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Nunez is around 30 yards from the West Ham goal when Mac Allister loses the ball

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Seeing Antonio carry the ball forward on the break, he sprints back into his own half

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Nunez proceeded to confront Antonio, coercing a throw and garnering applause from the local supporters.

"He possesses an intense mindset to sprint, confront, and reach positions that no one expects him to reach," stated Lijnders earlier this week. "This individual has an unwavering determination," commented teammate Alisson Becker. The tackle on Antonio epitomized the manifestation of these qualities.

Availability and link play

"He consistently made himself available," Klopp remarked regarding Nunez's performance against West Ham. "It's crucial for us at this point to have a player who excels in controlling the ball. Deliver the pass, receive it expertly, and initiate the play from that position."

Klopp highlighted Nunez's role in Liverpool's third goal versus Wolves in recent weeks.

Receiving Alisson's lengthy pass and restraining Craig Dawson near the halfway mark, he exhibits remarkable power to elude the center-back, leaving him sprawled on the ground. Nunez then swiftly advances into open space, releasing Salah, who subsequently sets up Harvey Elliot for a low shot that ricochets off Hugo Bueno and finds the net.

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Nunez controls Alisson's long kick on the halfway line

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He shrugs off Dawson and turns into the space behind him

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Nunez then releases Salah with a through-ball

Nunez's increased involvement in Liverpool's approach play can be seen in his numbers for touches and passes.

Last season, he had an average of 36.7 and 19.7 per 90 minutes in the Premier League. In the early stages of the new season, those numbers have increased to 44.8 and 23.6 per 90 minutes. Nunez, renowned for causing chaos, is now effectively collaborating with his fellow forwards, and his improvement is bringing out the best in Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, and Cody Gakpo.

The quintet has collectively accounted for 11 out of Liverpool's 15 Premier League goals, raising hopes that their formidable attacking prowess could potentially revive their chances for the title. Nunez faces the challenge of maintaining this level of performance against Tottenham on Saturday. If he delivers another impressive performance, it would further solidify the belief that he is now prepared to excel, as he had previously foreseen after a challenging debut season in England.

Watch Tottenham, vs Liverpool live on We Premier League from 5pm on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm