Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has said that Darwin Nunez will score ‘a lot of goals’ for the Reds.
Benitez, who won the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup in his six-year spell at Liverpool, certainly understands how a centre-forward works after managing Fernando Torres in his prime at Anfield.
The Spaniard also coached Chelsea, Real Madrid, Valencia and Napoli amongst others in his illustrious career, and thinks Nunez will be a top signing for the Reds.
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"I also think he will score a lot of goals for Liverpool and that he provides them with a different dynamic to Roberto Firmino," he told The Times.
“Firmino likes to drop off, create superiority in the middle of the pitch and help his team-mates score whereas Nunez is someone who always wants to be in the penalty box. He needs a little time and Liverpool just need a goal to boost their confidence.”
Nunez joined from Benfica this summer for an initial £68m, and has scored twice and got sent off already in his Liverpool career.
He changed the game in both the Community Shield and Liverpool’s opening day draw with Fulham, but was dismissed in the following fixture for headbutting Joachim Andersen.
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A return in the Merseyside derby saw Nunez have an effort acrobatically denied by Jordan Pickford, before being substituted in the dying embers.
Nunez scored 26 goals in 28 Premeira Liga matches last season, with 34 in all competitions - sparking Jurgen Klopp into sanctioning a potential eight-figure Euro deal for the striker.
He was criticised after his sending-off, but the manager believes that he can calm his aggression, as he did against Everton.
“He is a wonderful young man, honestly,” said the Liverpool manager to the Guardian, “but he has emotions as well. He made a mistake"
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"We didn’t speak for the full 15 days to him about it, constantly telling him ‘You have to calm down’. Of course we told him, not only now but now especially."
"I think even Luis Suárez told him via the media. I’m not sure they spoke privately but probably they did.”
Nunez will hope to get back up and running with a strike against Napoli, who Liverpool face tonight from 8 pm.
Topics: Rafa Benitez, Darwin Nunez, Liverpool
Chris Stonadge