PAUL SCHOLES ADMITS DARWIN NUNEZ HAS PROVED HIM WRONG AFTER LIVERPOOL BEAT BURNLEY 2-0
Darwin Nunez divides opinion up and down the land every time he takes to the pitch for Liverpool.
Prior to Jurgen Klopp’s side beating Burnley 2-0 on Saturday to return to the top of the Premier League table, Darwin Nunez had gone eight Premier League games without a goal.
Before the match, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was critical of Liverpool’s club-record transfer and his finishing.
But when the 24-year-old helped the Reds to three points at Turf Moor by opening the scoring inside six minutes, Paul Scholes admitted that he was proven wrong because he produced a ‘brilliant finish’, as he told Premier League Productions (26/12/23 at 6:20 pm).
The last game Darwin Nunez started was Liverpool’s goalless home draw against Manchester United where he flattered to deceive, before being dropped to the bench for the Arsenal match.
But he returned to the XI with a bang yesterday to remind his critics that he can still deliver the goods for his Premier League title-chasing side.
One of them so happened to be Paul Scholes, who was happy to give the all-action forward his flowers after the match.
Darwin Nunez’s finishing
“He had a little bit of criticism off me before the game for his finishing,” said Scholes.
“I did say (this would be the type of game for him). In these types of games, he seems to come up with something. Bournemouth earlier on in the season.
“But that’s a brilliant finish. Nice and composed. It’s them other ones, them simple ones that he seems to miss and the difficult ones he seems to put away.”
Darwin Nunez keeps knocking on the door
Every time Nunez seems to get knocked down, he gets back up and proves his worth.
Yes, he continues to have this knack for being reckless, but that is what makes him so watchable and entertaining.
Where the Uruguay star probably needs to up his game is by being more ruthless and being able to do the simple things on a more consistent basis.
So far this season, Nunez has five goals and five assists from 18 Premier League games. That’s pretty good going for a player lacking consistency.
Imagine what he would do if he did find that ruthless edge to his game.
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JAMIE CARRAGHER UNSURE ABOUT 24-YEAR-OLD LIVERPOOL PLAYER
Pundit Jamie Carragher feels that Cody Gakpo simply hasn’t shown anywhere near enough since joining Liverpool nearly a year ago.
The January transfer window is fast approaching and Liverpool may be in the market for signings.
A centre back is likely to be on the radar for the Reds, who will be weighing up whether to move in January or wait until the summer.
Liverpool did strike a big deal in the last January window, but whether that has been a success is up for debate…
Jamie Carragher unsure about Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo
Liverpool pounced on Boxing Day last year, agreeing a deal worth £37million rising to £50million to sign Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven.
Gakpo had dazzled for the Netherlands at the World Cup and was attracting major interest from other Premier League clubs.
Liverpool won the race but Gakpo has blown hot and cold since moving to Anfield.
The 24-year-old ended last season with seven goals in 17 Premier League games, a pretty encouraging start after arriving from the Eredivisie.
This term has been much trickier with Gakpo managing just two goals in 16 Premier League outings.
Gakpo’s decision-making against Manchester United was rather disappointing and he didn’t offer much in his start against Arsenal on Saturday.
The Dutchman managed just five accurate passes, two key passes and three successful aerial duels whilst being dispossessed three times.
Gakpo didn’t manage a shot on target and, worryingly for Liverpool, he has only managed two shots on target in his last nine Premier League outings.
Pundit Jamie Carragher has now offered his view, telling The Gary Neville Podcast that Gakpo has shown ‘nowhere near enough’ in nearly 12 months at Anfield.
Carragher feels that Gakpo has shown ‘flashes’ but needs to do much more in order to justify his move to Anfield.
“Gakpo has been here now close to 12 months and he’s had flashes but nowhere near enough,” said Carragher.
Diogo Jota is out injured right now and Darwin Nunez is enduring something of a goal drought, so this was a real chance for Gakpo to step up.
Facing William Saliba is a thankless task for most Premier League attackers, but the concerns over Gakpo go beyond Saturday’s game.
The transition from Eredivisie to Premier League has been difficult for many players over the years but Gakpo seemed to be managing just fine last season.
Now hitting some issues in his first full Premier League season, Gakpo needs to step it up for Liverpool or find that he doesn’t start big games going forward.
TOTTENHAM FEAR THEY CAN’T SIGN ‘EXCEPTIONAL’ LIVERPOOL PLAYER NOW
Tottenham Hotspur want to sign Liverpool defender Joe Gomez but fear that a January deal will now be kiboshed due to injuries at Anfield.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou will be hoping to see another centre back arrive in North London during the January window.
Spurs clearly need more competition for the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in the heart of their defence.
Pace will be vital given Postecoglou’s desire to play a high line – albeit probably never as high as against Chelsea last month – and a number of homegrown options have been linked.
Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo are on the Spurs radar but it sounds like a move for Liverpool’s Joe Gomez is in tatters…
Tottenham Hotspur think Joe Gomez move could be off
The Daily Mail (26/12, page 64) report that Tottenham had rekindled an interest in signing Liverpool defender Gomez.
Pace, Premier League experience, homegrown status, versatility… we can see why Tottenham were looking towards Gomez as a January signing.
The 26-year-old hails from London too, so a return to the capital could have appealed to Gomez.
However, Tottenham now fear that a move for Gomez will be kiboshed after Liverpool suffered yet another defensive injury.
Kostas Tsimikas picked up a collarbone injury against Arsenal over the weekend with Gomez coming on in his place.
Gomez did a fine job at left back, nullifying Bukayo Saka before starting in the same position against Burnley on Boxing Day as Liverpool won 2-0.
Andrew Robertson is already out of action and with Joel Matip injured too, Gomez is now very much needed at Anfield.
Gomez is now Liverpool’s starting left back, their main cover at right back and can step in at centre back if required.
Liverpool are now unlikely to let a player with that kind of flexibility leave the club with so many defenders injured around him.
Hailed as ‘exceptional’ by Jurgen Klopp last season, Gomez has struggled for starts at Liverpool but now finds himself in a starting role for the foreseeable future.
Tottenham will seemingly have to turn their attention elsewhere, with Liverpool likely to ruin their plans of luring Gomez away.
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