Harvey Elliott defends Darwin Nunez after Liverpool icon's "not convinced" claim

16 February 2024 , 08:00

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Robbie Fowler expressed doubts over Darwin Nunez last year (Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool star Harvey Elliott has spoken glowingly of team-mate Darwin Nunez just months after the £85million striker was questioned by Robbie Fowler.

Twenty months into his Anfield stay and some would argue the jury is still out on Nunez. The Uruguay international is never one to shy away from a game, but for an expensive striker, the ex-Benfica man's finishing often leaves plenty to be desired.

In 23 league games this term, Nunez has managed eight goals. In that time, the forward went 12 games without finding the net. As a result, criticism of the striker started to mount from fans and pundits alike, but Elliott has made clear that players within the Reds dressing room back their No. 9.

"You don’t need to look up," the 20-year-old explained. "You know the areas he’s [Nunez] going to be in & more often than not, he gets on the end of it. It’s a credit to him. He’s an amazing player & helps us in moments. He has scored some very important goals for us since he joined.

"He doesn’t complain, some games he doesn’t score, but he puts in 110% effort. That’s all we ask. He’s from a different country & didn’t know English. He took the responsibility of learning English & I can have a conversation with him!"

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Since the turn of the year, Nunez's form in front of goal has improved. Last month's impressive win away at Bournemouth saw the Uruguayan bag a brace, while last week's victory at home to Burnley saw the 24-year-old get on the scoresheet once again.

Those goals will go some way to easing the "fear" Reds legend Fowler admitted he has over Nunez. At the back end of last year, the ex-Liverpool star questioned the striker exclusively in his Mirror Football column.

HAVE YOUR SAY! How far is Nunez away from being the finished article? Comment below

Harvey Elliott has defended Liverpool team-mate Darwin Nunez

Fowler wrote: "How long do you give him? He arrived at Anfield almost 18 months ago now, and yet we are still talking about this potential, this ‘exciting rawness’. But you can’t go through your entire career being raw, can you?"

He went on to add: "I do hope that Klopp will convert the rawness of Nunez into something special that allows Liverpool to win the title, as Gary Neville suggested, but I’m not yet convinced it will happen."

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Josh O'Brien