Darwin Nunez has yet to unlock his full potential at Liverpool and, with the player being used as an impact sub, Jamie Carragher believes he may soon be sold by the Reds
Jamie Carragher believes Darwin Nunez’s days at Liverpool are numbered despite his match-winning brace at the weekend.
The Reds saw off Brentford to further extend their lead at the top of the Premier League, with the Uruguayan scoring twice in stoppage time after coming off the bench to seal a 2-0 win. Nunez though, despite his exploits in west London, has been hugely inconsistent at Anfield.
He was signed in 2022 when he had a host of Europe’s top clubs circling. It was Liverpool who won the race for his signature but he’s only delivered sporadically as his hefty price tag continues to be held against him.
Nunez’s finishing has been cited as his biggest weakness with the forward often spurning huge chances, some proving defining, and Carragher doesn’t think that his two-goal showing at Brentford will save his career on Merseyside.
He said on Sky Sports: “No. Not really, maybe right now. But I wouldn’t imagine he will be at the club next season. I don’t know, I’m not privy to those conversations, but he has got a brilliant record coming from the bench. I think since he joined the club, he has got more goals and assists than anyone in the Premier League from the bench, so maybe that is his role from now until the end of the season – which can help Liverpool get over the line.”
Liverpool’s frontline is well stocked and the likes of Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz are all ahead of Nunez in the pecking order. The Reds, despite their impressive record when it comes to selling players, may struggle to recoup the £64million fee they originally paid.
Arne Slot has previously defended his Uruguayan striker and said last month: “I’m not only judging Mohamed Salah on his goals and Darwin on his goals – I also judge them on their work-rate and what they bring to the team.”
Carragher has previously suggested it may be time for Liverpool to cash in on Nunez, doing so after he missed big chances in the Merseyside derby last season. He said: “You want him to do well because he gives everything, he causes trouble, he gets the odd goal. But after two years, when Liverpool are going for the title or in big games, you need your man to score at Old Trafford or at Goodison Park. This is the business end. He’s ground to a halt.
“After two years there’s going to be no improvement in him. This is what he is. He can cause trouble but he’s erratic with his finishing – it’s not enough to win you trophies so there’s a big decision to be made on him.”
