The Darwin Nunez era has come to an end. However Liverpool fans choose to remember it, they can’t argue that it wasn’t eventful.
The Uruguayan centre-forward arrived on Merseyside to much fanfare, with Jurgen Klopp having hand-picked the raw and powerful talent after his immense breakout year with Portuguese giants Benfica, scoring 34 goals across 41 matches in 2021/22.
That included an eye-catching performance against Liverpool in the Champions League, with goalscoring games against Barcelona and Bayern Munich preceding it.
When Nunez arrived, many thought he would follow in his footsteps of his countryman Luis Suarez. It was expected this maverick of a striker, oozing quality, would leave his mark on Merseyside.
But that wasn’t the case at all.
Why Liverpool had to sell Darwin Nunez
Nunez was given ample chance to make it work at Anfield, but ultimately, two of the finest modern coaches in Klopp and now Arne Slot have failed to unlock this enigma of a number nine.
At times a maverick, Nunez’s wastefulness and ability to get lost in the flow of matches ultimately led to his downfall, with Slot only starting him once in last term’s Premier League edition since Boxing Day. Across 47 matches in all competitions last year, the 25-year-old only scored seven goals.
And when Slot remarked that he “can’t accept if a player doesn’t give everything” following clear dejection when the striker missed a crucial chance against Aston Villa in February.
It’s for these reasons that an initial £46m fee has been agreed with Al Hilal for the transfer of the South American, who is now expected to have a medical with the Saudi Pro League side.
Touted as a talisman, Nunez leaves with a share of fond memories but plenty of moments that left something to be desired. A replacement is needed.
Liverpool preparing bid for Nunez upgrade
As per Spanish sources, Liverpool are preparing a fresh bid for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, having seen an initial £110m offer rejected last week.
This has since been corroborated by Fabrizio Romano.
The press over in Spain believe that Liverpool are prepared to break the British transfer record that they set with the £116m signing of Florian Wirtz in June by pressing ahead with a move for Isak, who, aged 25, wants to join the Anfield side.
Everything hinges on the Magpies’ success in signing a replacement, and with Manchester United having won the race for Benjamin Sesko, uncertainty reigns with that one.
Why Liverpool want Alexander Isak
Having signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for a £79m fee this summer, many observers might consider a record-breaking move for Isak somewhat superfluous on FSG’s part, but Liverpool are depleted up top in regard to numbers, and Isak would be the cream of the crop.
Not just a devastating goalscorer but an artful and athletic player, considered by his United teammate Nick Pope for being “like a wizard” on the ball, Isak is the real deal, and would be worth every penny as Slot looks to build and sustain a dynasty.
The £120k-per-week talent might even have enough talismanic aura about him that he steps up as Liverpool’s new inspiration, something that will weigh heavily on Slot’s mind as the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah enters the penultimate year of his journey on Merseyside.
Scoring 27 goals and supplying six assists for Newcastle last season, Isak certainly plays his role as the line leader with aplomb, and his goal against Liverpool to seal the Carabao Cup title at Wembley underscores his Steven Gerrard-esque quality, stepping up when his side need him most.
Gerrard had such desire and self-belief, and he had it in spades. The Liverpool legend is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, having played 710 matches for the Reds, scoring 186 goals and supplying 155 assists for his teammates.
But he was often the man for the big occasion, chipping in with his biggest career hauls against some of Liverpool’s biggest rivals, with Newcastle, Chelsea, Man United, Everton and Arsenal all featuring prominently on that list.
Newcastle
27
10
8
18
Bolton
23
7
9
16
Man City
26
6
10
16
Everton
33
10
4
14
Man Utd
35
9
5
14
Arsenal
34
6
8
14
Aston Villa
27
13
0
13
Moreover, who could forget that FA Cup final performance, releasing a howitzer of a strike to force extra time against West Ham United in the 2006 FA Cup final.
The 45-year-old also inspired Liverpool’s historic Champions League triumph the year before, and stood proud as Anfield’s leader, through thick and thin, across the wide span of his unforgettable career.
Isak might not be cut from the same positional cloth, but the centre-forward has that rare quality that few players across the globe boast: the knack at grabbing games by the scruff of the neck and pushing his team forward, through to victory.
He showed as much against Liverpool at Wembley only earlier this year, after all, while his record against the so-called ‘Big Six’ is also nothing to be sniffed at.
A man for the big occasion, the Swede has scored six times in five meetings with Spurs, four in six against both Chelsea and Liverpool, while also netting two apiece against both Manchester City and Arsenal, across six and five encounters, respectively.
Regarded by journalist Harry de Cosemo for having “hero status” on Tyneside, Isak could immortalise himself in Liverpool by completing a transfer to Slot’s side, adding not just world-class ability but a willingness to step up and lead.
Just like Gerrard did. Time and time again.
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