Why is Darwin Nunez better for Uruguay?

Arne Slot has the chance to claim a big early win by helping Darwin Nunez replicate his Uruguay form for Liverpool.

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

While Liverpool fans have no doubt been pleased to see Darwin Nunez banging in the goals for Uruguay of late, they are also surely asking why he has yet to show such prolific form for Liverpool.

By netting against Bolivia in the Copa America group stages last Sunday, the 25-year-old made it seven straight games in which he has scored for his country. 

It is a run that has seen him match a 96-year-old national team record held by World Cup winner Hector Scarone, one that he would break by notching against the United States in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

And this purple patch has not been limited to a goal a game, either, with Nunez having scored a remarkable 10 times in his last seven outings for La Celeste.

Yet the big frustration for Liverpool supporters is that they have rarely been treated to such ruthlessness from the forward since his arrival from Benfica in a deal that could ultimately end up totalling £85m, with his best scoring run in red spanning four games. 

As such, it feels like one of the key questions for those who walk the halls of the AXA Training Centre going into next season is how they ensure Nunez shows this version of himself more regularly on Merseyside.

Of course, it could be argued that the striker is benefiting from the weakness of international football teams relative to the Premier League opposition he faces throughout the season.

But then he has scored against Argentina (ranked first in the world), Brazil (fourth), Colombia (12th) and Mexico (15th) during his recent glut of goals.

And, while Panama (43) and Bolivia (84) could be considered weak opposition, even then credit must surely be given for cashing in on the opportunity.

The fact is, the forward hasn’t shown that sort of cutting edge even against the lesser lights in any competition he has appeared in for his club since joining.

So, is that simply down to luck? Or are Uruguay doing something completely different to get the best out of him?

Watching Nunez’s recent goals for his country back, it is important to note that he doesn’t simply transform into a more cultured finisher once he pulls on a sky blue jersey.

There are no sumptuous dinks over an onrushing goalkeeper, or inch-perfect finishes into the corner to be seen, with that trademark scruffiness in front of goal still always evident.

Yet there is a consistent theme running through this particular collection of goals: that the striker’s technical deficiencies are partly mitigated thanks to nine of the 10 coming courtesy of first-time strikes.

While Nunez has famously missed plenty such opportunities during his time at Liverpool, there has long been a feeling that, the less time he has to think in front of goal, the better the outcomes. 

And, of late at least, Marcelo Bielsa has proven more adept at getting him into those situations than Jurgen Klopp has done over the course of the last two years.

It is not easy to pin down precisely why, though the 4-2-3-1 formation favoured by Uruguay might, in theory, create more space for Nunez given there are not only two wingers dragging players out of position but also a No.10.

By contrast, the members of Liverpool’s three-man midfield have always had slightly less licence to operate as a second centre-forward, meaning their lone striker is often exactly that - and more closely marked as a result. 

With that in mind, it will be fascinating to see whether Arne Slot brings the setup he often preferred at Feyenoord with him to Anfield, shifting away from Klopp’s favoured 4-3-3.

One of the key factors behind the Dutchman’s appointment was a belief among senior figures at Liverpool that he will be able to get more out of Nunez, and perhaps he will feel that a tweak in shape is the best way to do it. 

Either way, it seems vital that Slot creates a tactical framework that allows his No.9 to shoot with his first touch more often, increasing the chances of his Uruguay form being replicated at club level.

Should that work out, then the new manager will have achieved one of his primary aims early on in his Anfield reign, while the emergence of a more prolific centre-forward has never done harm to any team’s chances of silverware.