Liverpool have made their big signing of the summer transfer window by roping in Benfica striker Darwin Nuñez. The Reds will be paying a total of £85m (£64m+£21m in add-ons), making the Uruguayan striker one of their most expensive signings in Premier League history.
By signing Nuñez, Jurgen Klopp has fixed the potential issue in his squad that was exposed in the Champions League final loss to Real Madrid. Liverpool lack clinical, natural No. 9’s in their squad and Darwin can fill that void perfectly.
Having scored 32 goals in all competitions last season – including six in the Champions League – Nuñez has gained the reputation of a ruthless goalscorer. But the 22-year-old is a very complete forward with a lot of weapons in his arsenal.
He won’t just help improve Liverpool’s goalscoring, but he’ll also have a positive effect on those around him. So let’s look at three Liverpool players who can benefit from Nuñez’s arrival.
Trent Alexander-Arnold to regularly assist Nuñez?
The prospect of linking up with a clinical striker like Nuñez will be mouth-watering for someone like Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Englishman registered 12 assists for Liverpool in the Premier League last season, more than any other defender in the league.
He averaged 2.6 key passes per game (as per WhoScored) last season and has been a primary source of Liverpool’s scoring chances the last few campaigns. Alexander-Arnold’s pitch-perfect crosses from the right wing are every striker’s dream and will also benefit Nuñez too.
Trent can expect to be involved in more goals with a ruthless finisher like Darwin up front. He’ll just have to direct his crosses and set-pieces into the dangerous areas inside the box and expect them to be converted. A No. 9 like Nuñez will only encourage Alexander-Arnold to be hungrier in delivering quality crosses and raking up even more assists next season.
Mohamed Salah looks to form new partnership at Liverpool
Liverpool have been quite dependent on Mo Salah and Sadio Mane for goals in recent seasons. With Mane likely to leave for Bayern Munich, a lot of the pressure will be on Salah to continue his heroics.
But the Egyptian winger should be glad about the signing of a striker like Nuñez. The Uruguayan forward can be an ideal partner for Salah. More importantly, he can help take some of the goal-scoring burdens away from the winger.
Darwin’s style and ability to impose himself in the game means he can help divert defenders’ attention as well. That would allow Salah to get in behind the defenders and into free space more often, as Nuñez drags defenders to him, leaving teammates open to cause chaos.
Mo can also get more assists knowing how ruthless Darwin’s finishing is and might have been delivered his new post-Mane partner-in-crime at Liverpool.
Luis Diaz gets a new forward partner
Luis Diaz has made a significant impact at Anfield since joining Liverpool in the January transfer window. He scored 4 goals and provided 3 assists in 13 Premier League games, as well as excelling in the FA Cup and Champions League knockout stages too.
Diaz was also a living example that players coming from the Portuguese league can be a success story in the Premier League. Nuñez will try to emulate his fellow South American star in adapting to Klopp’s system quickly and flying high from the get-go.
The chemistry between the two should also be interesting to see. Nuñez is not just a smart scorer in the box, but he can move all around the forward areas and help teammates close by him.
The Uruguayan forward can help Diaz get into more free space as well as score goals from central areas by gaining the attention of defenders by his side.
Luis should love playing with a fast, clinical forward like Darwin and will look to create more chances for him knowing his efficiency. If these two strike up a solid understanding, Premier League defenders will be in trouble next season.