Why Darwin Nunez experiment did not work out at Liverpool
Darwin Nunez looks set to leave Liverpool imminently.
Nunez has been a polarising figure in his time on Merseyside after his £64million move in 2022, some supporters love him, while others cannot stand him.
He notched 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 matches, but he will not get the chance to add to that tally after Liverpool agreed a £46.3m fee with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal.
Here, Liverpool News looks at why it never worked out for the forward at Anfield.
Liverpool swayed from their usual model to sign Nunez
It has been widely reported that Jurgen Klopp led to push to sign Nunez, as he was swooned by the striker’s performances for Benfica.
His mind was then set in stone over the move when the Uruguay international scored home and away against the Reds in the Champions League.
The Anfield outfit had usually relied on an extensive data-driven approach from Michael Edwards and Co, but they were overruled as the legendary manager took a firmer grip on transfers after the very successful 2022-23 campaign.
Edwards wanted to bring Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak to Merseyside, who they are now trying to replace Nunez with.
Comparisons to Haaland did not help
From the start, Nunez was compared to Manchester City star Erling Haaland as they both arrived in the same transfer window for huge fees.
However, he did not have the same composure and decision-making skills in front of the goal, and he suffered from those comparisons.
That was evident on his home debut, when he was sent off for headbutting Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen.
He could not live up to the expectations that were thrust upon his shoulders, and while he did have his moments, such as the brace against Brentford in January that boosted Liverpool’s title chances, they were not regular enough.
The mental pressure seems to have proved too much, as his confidence took a huge knock whenever things did not go his way.
Nunez did not fit Slot’s system at Liverpool
The final nail for Nunez should have been when Slot joined the Reds after Klopp departed at the end of the 2023-24 season.
It was obvious from the jump that he did not fit in with the way that the Dutchman wanted his side to play.
Slot regularly stated his desire for a multi-functional forward, one that can link play and score, in a system that is based on control and structure.
Meanwhile, Nunez is a chaotic, high-energy player who lacks the attributes to thrive in that kind of tactical approach.
The divide was clear, Slot criticised Nunez’s attitude far too often for it to ever work out long-term while he was the manager.
His passion could not be questioned, but his performances on the pitch were simply not good enough for a Liverpool number nine.
Sign up for the Liverpool News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Liverpool news sent straight to your phone.