Darwin Nunez produced a potentially defining game for himself during Liverpool’s 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth on Sunday.
With Mohamed Salah absent, the limelight was shining that bit sharper on the likes of Darwin Nunez because this was his time to step up.
Liverpool’s record signing answered in style by netting himself a brace against one of the form teams in the Premier League, including opening the scoring.
Despite that, former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given admitted that he still ‘isn’t sure’ about Darwin Nunez, as he told Premier League Productions (22/01/24 at 2:15 pm).
It’s the striker’s finishing, or lack of natural nature to it, that Shay Given has doubts over, as he compared the Liverpool star to Diogo Jota.
That is a bit of an unfair comparison because the Portugal star is one of the best and it has even recently got Jamie Carragher questioning if he is the most natural finisher for the Reds in Premier League history, as he posted on Twitter.
Nonetheless, whilst Darwin Nunez proved his worth to some over the weekend, it seems as though the 24-year-old still has a lot more to do to convince others.
Darwin Nunez’s goals
“You see Nunez,” said Given. “There is still, you might disagree, but I am still not sure.
“I know he scored two and he’s got good figures. But I still don’t think he is a natural goalscorer, if that makes sense.
“If you look at his partner in Jota. He looks like the most natural goalscorer in the league. Everything he seems to touch turns to gold. He is a brilliant striker and a very natural finisher.”

Darwin Nunez without Mohamed Salah
This could well and truly make Nunez. Yes, it’s not what Liverpool fans want to hear, with Salah set to spend some time on the sidelines.
But with the club’s star man out of the picture, it allows someone like Nunez to take the torch and run with it.
If Liverpool are still top of the table, with a healthy lead and Nunez leading the charge, in six weeks’ time, then it will elevate the player’s status.