Former West Ham United defender Anton Ferdinand has admitted that he would rather play against Gabriel Jesus than against Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.
Ex-Reds forward Roberto Firmino and his countryman Gabriel Jesus revolutionized the No. 9 role in recent times while dominating the PL with their striking prowess.
While Firmino was stacking up the numbers and titles for the Merseysiders under Jurgen Klopp, Jesus was doing wonders under Pep Guardiola at Etihad. Both Brazilians won several trophies with their respective sides.
While Jesus left City in 2022, Firmino left Anfield this summer to join the Saudi Pro League. And Darwin Nunez has taken over the No. 9 shirt at Liverpool since then.
Although the Uruguayan is fairly new to the PL compared to Jesus, he has always been the hot topic. And pundit Anton Ferdinand, speaking on Five, said he would rather face the Brazilian international. He stated,
“I’d rather play against Jesus, do you want to know why? Nunez takes you back towards your own goal, Jesus doesn’t, he doesn’t run.
“That’s fine, he’s a top player, I really like him, but for a defender you’d rather play against someone you can’t get the ball off of at the halfway line but on the edge of the box you can leave them.
“If someone is running at you, that’s the run they don’t want to make back towards your own goal, he stretches you, and he puts you under immense pressure, that’s why.”
There is no denying of the heroics of Jesus in the PL for the Sky Blues. And he continues to deliver for the Gunners this season.
However, the comparison comes in when the topic of lethality arises. The 24-year-old is an immaculate finisher with immense pace to outrun the defenders. And his in-behind runs are more dangerous than that of Jesus.
Although the LFC forward has a lot to prove in the PL, his potential is way beyond the Brazilian. And most certainly he will exceed all the numbers set previously.
