Liverpool already have 'next Fernando Torres' and Jurgen Klopp is now unleashing him
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez could score 20 Premier League goals, according to former Reds forward Emile Heskey
Emile Heskey has lauded Darwin Nunez and backed the Liverpool star to match the feats Fernando Torres pulled off at Anfield.
Nunez endured a mixed debut season on Merseyside, prompting criticism from fractions of the media despite acclimatising to a new league and language.
The Uruguayan suffered a spell out of the starting line-up at the beginning of the season under Jurgen Klopp but has since nudged his way firmly into the conversation. Nunez fired the Reds to an unlikely victory with 10 men against Newcastle United and has improved on his defensive work leading the line.
During the summer, the 24-year-old became the new shirt holder for the number nine after Roberto Firmino's contract expired. Heskey, who scored 60 goals in 223 appearances for Liverpool, believes Nunez has the capability to become a 20-goal-a-season player.
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"I think Darwin Nunez has the potential to score more than 20 goals a season. He's getting the chances and he always makes the correct runs," he said speaking to BoyleSports who offer the latest EURO 2024 outright betting markets.
"He has the opportunity, and the rest will be up to him. You can't knock his work rate and his willingness to make things happen. He just needs to perfect that last little bit."
Since arriving at Anfield, Nunez has faced comparisons to Luis Suarez, a fellow Uruguayan, but Heskey insists there are similarities between the current Liverpool star and Fernando Torres.
The 45-year-old added: "I think he's a similar player to Fernando Torres, but Fernando went in with a lot more confidence. Darwin's aim should be to match Fernando's level, and he'll then look to better what Torres did.
"Darwin will have to work on his finishing and develop his hold-up play if he wants to match Torres. Nunez is certainly getting better, though, and I'd say he only has to work on that."