Welcome to the Darwin Nunez Conundrum, series three. Into his third season at Liverpool, after an £85million move from Benfica, fans are still none the wiser as to whether Nunez is a truly world-class talent or a big-money flop.
In a season preview, Mail Sport likened him to a Netflix TV series. It is a point worth revisiting.
Nunez has had some blockbuster, unmissable episodes at Liverpool that live long in the memory. But there have also been many forgettable moments. In any case, the striker is never too far away from the drama.
After two up-and-down seasons on Merseyside, Nunez must now kick on and prove his doubters wrong. Those doubters, it must be said, are mainly outsiders —many inside the club still believe he can evolve into a top striker.
When Arne Slot took the Liverpool job, the club’s hierarchy impressed upon him the importance of extracting the most from their record signing. Slot has already ticked off many things on his to-do list — ensure no post-Jurgen Klopp hangover, solidify the defence, alter the system slightly — but Nunez remains a work in progress.
Liverpool fans are still unsure whether Darwin Nunez will ever become a world-class striker with an Anfield career that has so far failed to truly get off the ground
Transforming the fortunes of the Uruguayan may well be Arne Slot's biggest short-term task as Liverpool boss
The striker's only goal of the season came in a 3-0 win over Brentford at Anfield last month
Across seven Premier League games, the 25-year-old has started just once. He scored in that game, with a rasping finish against Bournemouth — but that remains his only goal under Slot. Aside from that, he has managed three substitute appearances of 18, 14 and 30 minutes.
Nunez, therefore, was understandably delighted that a FIFA ban prohibiting him from playing for Uruguay this week was rescinded. That was after an appeal on a suspension that stemmed from his role in a brawl with fans during this summer’s Copa America.
Slot was said to be buoyed by Nunez going off to South America, breaking with club managers’ usual attitude that long-haul travel in the international break can be detrimental. The boss thought it would be better for him to play rather than ruminate back in England.
Liverpool were scouring for a behind-closed-doors friendly match to help Nunez and Co get some minutes into their legs. Others, such as Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa, could also do with some game-time after injuries and a lack of minutes.
‘Ideally for me he would have gone over there,’ said Slot before the ban was overturned. ‘I don’t think it is a good thing for a player to be suspended. It’s a good thing for a player to go and see his team-mates, get energy and some playing time.’
Nunez’s record for Uruguay has been exceptional, scoring 10 goals in 13 games for them last season, including a run to the Copa America semi-final. He enjoys working under well-respected coach Marcelo Bielsa.
Nunez is the main man for his national team and regularly receives public endorsements from former Liverpool star Luis Suarez, their all-time leading scorer. Suarez, still playing at Inter Miami, is regularly on the phone to Nunez with praise and constructive criticism.
Suarez, who scored 82 goals in 133 Liverpool games, is Nunez’s idol. When the 37-year-old retired from international duty this year, Nunez wrote on social media: ‘Thank you from the heart for everything you did for me in the national team.
'You were my idol without knowing you — and you are even more so now that I do know you. As you said, you came (to football) as a child and leave as a legend, it’s everyone’s dream and you fulfilled it.’
Nunez was given a dressing down from Bielsa at half-time of a game against Argentina in Buenos Aires last year and was reduced to tears. Suarez took the striker — who wears his heart on his sleeve — to one side and told him he was in the team on merit and that he is ‘the best’.
Nunez has a superb recent record for his national team, with 10 goals in his last 13 matches
Former Liverpool star Luis Suarez (right) is regularly on the phone to Nunez with praise and constructive criticism
Not long later, the pair were wheeling away to celebrate a goal as Uruguay beat the world champions for the first time since 2013, and he also scored as they beat Brazil for the first time since 2001. ‘Darwin needs affection, to be supported and to feel involved,’ said Suarez.
Does Nunez enjoy that affection at Liverpool? While starting XIs this season might not suggest it, many at the club love him. He always has a smile on his face at training and often has breakfast with his South American pals. But while his English is improving slightly due to his twice-weekly lessons, it is still not perfect and this could prove a barrier on the training ground and in team meetings.
When Klopp left, Nunez lost arguably his biggest supporter at the club, with Spanish-speaking lieutenant Pep Lijnders — now Red Bull Salzburg boss — another who invested countless hours into working with the striker. The pair were huge allies and backers of Nunez.
So what does Nunez need to do to prove to Liverpool he can be the main man? Arguably, he is in a Catch-22 situation. He needs a run in the team to rediscover his confidence… but also needs that confidence to take his chances and oust Diogo Jota as centre forward.
Nunez remains loved by the Liverpool fanbase and is regularly seen around the cub's AXA Training ground with a beaming smile on his face
Klopp said 18 months ago that Nunez’s ‘ticket’ to the starting line-up would be improving his off-the-ball work and ‘readiness to defend’. Slot feels similar and said recently: ‘It comes down to what you have to do when we don’t have the ball, fit his own characteristics into that.’
Given the time between those two public admissions, Nunez’s issues are proving easier to diagnose than cure — and Jota’s superb form makes it all the more unlikely that the Uruguayan will get a run in the starting XI soon.
Klopp would often play Cody Gakpo as a false nine — and before that Roberto Firmino — due to their ability to press from the front and contribute to the team’s defensive efforts. So far, Slot has employed a similar tactic with Jota up front — meaning fewer minutes for Nunez.
Another thing the striker must improve is his frustrating tendency to be caught offside — he was flagged 33 times last season, five more than anyone else in the Premier League. Slot and his staff, including Spanish-speaking Johnny Heitinga and fellow coaches Aaron Briggs and Sipke Hulshoff, are conducting daily meetings with the Uruguayan. Nunez has had many individual sessions which include video analysis over where he can improve his pressing and off-the-ball runs.
Diogo Jota (left) is currently the preferred option upfront due to his work off the ball for the Reds
Slot and staff, including Spanish-speaking Johnny Heitinga (centre) and fellow coaches Aaron Briggs and Sipke Hulshoff, are conducting daily meetings
But above all, it is clear Nunez needs confidence, especially considering Suarez’s comments about his breakdown in the Uruguay dressing room.
When he is at his best, he looks every bit the £85m striker that was being compared to Erling Haaland on his arrival in England. His problem is the days when he does not reach his best.
Nunez has a chance to build some belief in himself tomorrow when Uruguay host Ecuador. Slot and his staff will be desperate for him to take it.