A hand-full of Liverpool players performed up to expectation over the weekend against Manchester United. But one of Jürgen Klopp’s men has been singled out by Didi Hamann.
In a recent interview, the former Liverpool midfielder Hamann voiced his apprehension about the current form of Darwin Núñez following Liverpool’s goalless draw against Manchester United. The 24-year-old was one of a number of Reds players to be well below par.
Núñez, the Uruguayan striker, was signed by Liverpool for a fee that could reach a record £86m from Benfica. While he could yet explode, there is no doubt that he has been underperforming lately, with only four goals in the Premier League this season and none since late October.
Núñez had shown promise earlier in the season when he scored a decisive brace against Newcastle. Despite this, he has struggled to consistently find the back of the net. And speaking on TalkSport, as transcribed by the Daily Mirror, Hamann expressed his concerns about Núñez’s performance.
“I think the big issue is the form of Núñez,” Hamann said. “Since he scored those goals away to Newcastle I thought he had come into his own now and be the striker that everyone expected him to be. I think he has scored only one or two goals and his form is a bit of a worry.”
In his first season with Liverpool, Núñez managed 15 goals after a rocky start which included being sent off in his home debut. However, his finishing ability has been questioned after missing a crucial opportunity in a match against Luton.
In spite of all these challenges, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has continued to support Núñez. Earlier this season, Klopp acknowledged the difficulties Núñez faces as a new player in a foreign league and expressed confidence that he will eventually live up to his potential.
He stated: “He’s a player full of potential… it was a rocky road a little bit. But he’s here now and it’s a joy. It’s a joy to work with him, he loves training, working hard. He’s a different striker to some others but he gives you a lot of options.”
