27 October 2023 , 06:38
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Joe Cole has backed Darwin Nunez to follow in the footsteps of Didier Drogba by improving his finishing to become a complete striker.
Nunez has made an inconsistent start to life at Liverpool following his £85million transfer from Benfica last summer. The Uruguay international has shown huge amounts of promise and contributed 20 goals in 54 games, yet there is a sense he could have more.
The 24-year-old has been guilty of missing some huge opportunities, and although he did score in the 5-1 thrashing of Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday night, it was a mistake which was more memorable. Nunez showed great composure to go around the goalkeeper in the second half, only to strike the post with the goal gaping.
Thankfully, Ryan Gravenberch was on hand to gobble up the rebound as Nunez sank to his knees in disbelief at his miss. But Cole is not too concerned about Nunez’s erratic finishing and used a comparison with Drogba, who scored 164 goals to become a Chelsea legend.
“He’ll be claiming it was an assist for Gravenberch I think! But seriously, he does so well here to pick the ball up, the footwork is exquisite to sit down the centre-half, the composure is excellent to go around the goalkeeper,” he said on TNT Sports. “He just needs to take an extra touch, I think he gets very excited and goes too early. I love the way he’s alive on the run.
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“I think it does [sum him up as a player] but I think that can be harsh on him because he’s got so much to his game. He gets an A* in every part of his game, and his performance tonight was also fantastic but his finishing is a C at the moment, but that’s something he can work on.
Darwin Nunez hit the post after rounding the goalkeeper (TNT Sports) HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Darwin Nunez come good at Liverpool, or is his finishing a worry? Comment below.
“It’s something that often comes later on in strikers, something that they work on later like Dider Drogba. When he arrived at Chelsea, he wasn’t as polished as when he became the legend he was so the Liverpool fans will be hoping Darwin Nunez can turn into that kind of striker, one who seizes those opportunities and gets better with age.”
Nunez did get his goal in the first half, smashing into the roof of the net with his left foot after a ricochet fell nicely for him. It means he’s got five goals in 12 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool this season and Jurgen Klopp is delighted with his contribution.
"He played incredible. Honestly, I couldn't care less that he hits the post in that moment because everything before was super-convincing, was absolutely clear," Klopp said post-match.
"How he took the defender away, how he passed the goalie, it was a perfect situation... He's a happy boy or man at the moment and you can see that every day. And now we have to make sure that it stays like that."