Chaos and calm of Nunez and Haaland to decide Liverpool vs Man City title clash
Two strikers who ‘terrify’ defenders in very different ways will lock horns tomorrow looking to land a huge blow in the Premier League title battle.
Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland are front men who fit perfectly into their respective sides but there are many differences between the two pony-tailed goal poachers. Liverpool against Manchester City in the fight for top spot could well be decided by two No 9s on the pitch at Anfield.
Haaland, 23, has scored 29 goals so far this season in all competitions in what is supposed to be a quieter campaign for the Nordic goal monster. Nunez, 24, has 16 for the Reds this term but his 12 goal contributions since the turn of the year shows he’s a man in fine form.
How do you go about stopping them? It’s no easy feat according to former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson. “Nunez frightens defenders because he can get into his stride extremely quickly,” said Lawrenson, a five-time league winner with the Merseysiders.
“You need to give him half a yard but then the pitch is massive. Two or three steps and and he’s away from people.
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“You’re on the edge of the seat when he gets the ball because you never know what he’s going to do. If he gets in front of you, he’s gone.
"But then there is the unpredictability. You don’t know which post or crossbar he will hit next!
“The way that football is now, you can spend an hour watching the players you’re going to play against but you do not know with him exactly what he’s going to do.”
Liverpool vs Manchester City will lock horns at the Etihad Stadium (Offside via Getty Images)Nunez is chaos, he’s different to other strikers and not always clinical but that adds to the drama. Haaland is calm, composed and ruthless. Lawrenson sees Nunez’s finishing improving but the only striker he can really compare him to that he played against in the 1980s was Gary Lineker.
“Lineker would be up there with that, Lineker was clever in that he would run offside for the first couple of passes in a game and he would do it just to see what you would do,” said the ex-Kop defender.
“He was very, very clever at that but Nunez is different though because he is all power and strength. When you are playing against him, you’re hoping nobody is going to get time on the ball in midfield to play him in because then it is a foot race and generally you will lose it.”
How does Haaland compare?
“I would suggest that Haaland doesn’t cover the amount of ground that Nunez does,” said Lawrenson. "Haaland plays the width of the box, he’s in the 18-yard box but that’s where all top goalscorers are. He’s better in the air, obviously.
“Haaland’s relationship with [Kevin] De Bruyne is something special though, they link up so well. He’s a brute and if he gets in front of you it is good night because of the strength.
"City are getting better playing with him, I know that sounds silly when he scored all those goals last year but they know him better now. He isn’t frightened to miss, either. It’s like a London bus and he knows another one will be along in a minute.”
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Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden after scoring his side's second goal vs Everton (James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)While Haaland’s numbers are astronomical and Nunez is box office because of his chaotic style, you get the feeling neither team would swap their No 9 for the other.
“The two teams have two different strikers which complement each other’s teams perfectly,” added Lawrenson. “It will be interesting to see who comes out on top.”
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