'The difference for me': Gus Poyet shares why Liverpool don't see the best of Darwin Nunez and Uruguay do
07/27/2024 03:45 AM
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez remains a player who splits opinion among Reds fans but Gus Poyet believes he knows why he’s so inconsistent at Anfield.
Nunez is expected to be a key player for Arne Slot after being signed by Jurgen Klopp and producing a mixed back of performances.
In fairness to Nunez, he did manage 18 goals and 13 assists last season for Liverpool. Those numbers are not to be sniffed at and a lot of PL strikers would take them.
However, Nunez seems a different beast when he goes to play with Uruguay.
The has an impressive 13 goals in less than 30 caps and seems to produce a higher level of performance more consistently for his country.
And discussing why Nunez is so effective for Uruguay, former international Gus Poyet believes there’s a crucial difference at club level.
Gus Poyet explains why Darwin Nunez is not the same player for Liverpool as he is for Uruguay
Speaking about the difference in Nunez’s performances for Liverpool and Uruguay, Poyet believes there is one big standout in terms of what Nunez is asked to do.
“From outside, without knowing what is going on inside, the difference for me now is when he goes to Uruguay he knows he’s the number nine,” Poyet told the Mirror.
"There is no other. It doesn’t matter if Luis Suarez is in the squad or not in the squad, the number nine is Darwin Nunez.
“I think from outside, when he’s at Liverpool he doesn’t know if he’s the number nine. One day it looks like it, and the next week it’s not, then in midweek no, then yes for three games and then no [again].
“I think sometimes certain players – again, from outside, without knowing – they need to have that feeling that ‘I’m the number nine, I’m going to play, I’m going to score 25 goals’, and that’s what he’s doing with the national team. I think he had that extra bit of confidence and security that he’s going to be playing all the time.”
Arne Slot has spoken of the attributes Nunez has and how he feels he can be an asset for him this season.
However, Nunez must find that consistency in both his overall game and how he takes chances.
24/25, then, is set to be a big season for him and Poyet might just have a good point.
