The Premier League stalwart has some words of wisdom for Liverpool’s star summer signing and knows what it takes to score goals at the highest level. Donald Nunez
Darwin Nunez may be finding it difficult to replace Sadio Mane this season at Anfield, according to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
Last summer, Jurgen Klopp and Benfica agreed to a deal worth £85 million plus a number of add-ons in order to bring the 23-year-old Uruguayan international to the red half of Merseyside. This season, he has already been guilty of blowing some magnificent opportunities, which has put pressure on the striker to perform.
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While Nunez is displaying some encouraging traits, according to Henry, he is guilty of trying to “overdo it” in front of goal and may already be faltering under the strain of trying to match Mane’s effect.
Tuesday night, Liverpool defeated Napoli 2-0 at home, and Henry spoke with Nunez about his performance following the match.
According to the Frenchman, who spoke to CBS Sports, “I think he needs confidence, and the confidence that I’m talking about is that when you are at a club and feel like you’re going to play week in and week out, you’re a bit more frigid in front of goal.”
He occasionally rushes things because he wants to impress the Liverpool fans so badly and wants to achieve so much. When he receives the ball, he rushes it rather than controlling it before reversing and scoring cleanly with his right foot.
Nunez contributed against Napoli after coming off the bench by scoring Liverpool’s second.
“I experienced that. when you make a huge entrance and occasionally just go overboard. It’s difficult to come in after Mane, and you end up going overboard rather than finishing calmly and coolly.
In fact, Henry continued by making it plain that in his opinion, Nunez lacks the same level of deadly instinct as some famous Liverpool goal machines from years past.
The Premier League icon talked about Nunez’s similarities to fellow former Liverpool player Luis Suarez rather than Robbie Fowler, who scored goals at a rate comparable to that of the former Reds star.
Nunez currently has seven goals and two assists in all competitions, hardly the stats of a misfire acquisition. Undoubtedly, some of the criticism he has received was unwarranted, but he will find solace in the knowledge that his boss is happy with his work.
Despite calling the striker’s performance against Napoli “really good,” Klopp showered him with extra praise following Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Leeds.
The Reds manager continued, “Trust me, nobody knows how good Darwin can get, he doesn’t know. We need to work on this in all different areas, but he has to keep in shape and be ready all the time.