Liverpool legend Steve McManaman has insisted Darwin Nunez 'needs to start producing' for the Reds after an underwhelming start to the campaign.
The Uruguayan has found the back of the net just once for Arne Slot's side in the Premier League, bringing his total goal tally for Liverpool up to 34 since joining for £85million in 2022.
Though Nunez has often been praised for his work-rate and hold-up play, his goalscoring ability leaves a lot to be desired and it's now come under the McManaman microscope.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool's clash with RB Leipzig in the Champions League, he said: 'When you’re an £80m signing for Liverpool football club and you’re a number nine, you need to score goals and that’s what he is judged on. And if he doesn’t score goals, his time could be numbered.
'He really has to step up this year because he’s two and a half years into a long contract but he really needs to start producing the numbers that a Liverpool number nine does.
Liverpool legend Steve McManaman has insisted Darwin Nunez 'needs to start producing'
'Salah stepped up, Jota to a certain extent has stepped up and Luis Diaz as well'.
He was, however, given a place in the starting line-up for their clash with German outfit Leipzig on Wednesday night and made it count after scoring the opener.
Nunez tapped in from close range against the Bundesliga side after a neat header from Mohamed Salah.
The Uruguayan found himself on the bench for Liverpool's recent 2-1 victory over Chelsea, with Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Salah preferred.
Earlier this month, Nunez was cleared to play in Uruguay's upcoming World Cup qualifiers after successfully appealing his international ban according to reports.
After Marcelo Bielsa's side were knocked out of this summer's Copa America by Colombia Nunez was one of several players to race into the stands after trouble broke out between fans.
CONMEBOL subsequently handed Nunez a five-match ban from international football, the longest given to any of the players involved.