Why Darwin Nunez could secure Liverpool cult hero status | OneFootball

Speculation arose before Liverpool appointed Arne Slot that whoever succeeds Jurgen Klopp would need to centre their forward line around the much-maligned striker Darwin Nunez.

However, any such notion quickly dissipated when Nunez started on the bench during Slot’s debut at Ipswich. He played a limited role in Liverpool’s next three matches, with Diogo Jota preferred to lead the attack.

Nunez soon began to earn starting roles, featuring in seven games between matchdays five and fourteen, although he missed one match due to illness and was an unused substitute in another. Unfortunately, full 90-minute appearances have been rare for him, with only three to his name during that span. Recently, he’s made five appearances, including just one start, but never completed that game.

Across two of his overall seven league starts for the title-chasing Reds, Nunez found the back of the net: a 3-0 victory against Bournemouth and a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, both at home. In the latter match, he scored the opening goal. For now, he seems to have adapted to the role of an impact substitute, as demonstrated in the recent match against Brentford. Coming on in the 65th minute with the game still goalless, Nunez scored twice in stoppage time.

This was the fifth time he scored twice in a Premier League match for Liverpool, and the second time he accomplished this as a substitute—the first instance was against Newcastle United in August 2023. Even more impressive is the fact that Nunez now shares the record for the most match-winning goals scored after the 80th minute (3) in England’s top division since the start of last season.

In terms of most goals scored after the 80th minute since last season began, Nunez finds himself in distinguished company, with only teammate Mohamed Salah (8) and Erling Haaland (7) having netted more than him (6) during this period. Additionally, Nunez holds the record for the most 90th-minute winners away from home in Premier League history.

As previously mentioned, Nunez has primarily played a squad role under Slot’s leadership, which has been the case since his arrival at the club. In fact, since his first Premier League season in 2022/23, only Jhon Durán, with 8 goals, has scored more times as a substitute than Nunez, who has scored 7 goals. Nunez, though, has recorded more goal involvements as a substitute than any other player, totalling 11.

He has achieved all of this despite frequently being mocked by opposition supporters, with Brentford fans taunting him by singing, “You’re just a s*** Andy Carroll.” He showed them his quality by punishing them on the field. However, he’s also frustrated his own supporters with some unfortunate misses. Since the start of the 2023/24 season, no player has hit the woodwork more often than Nunez, who has done so nine times.

It’s important to note that Nunez’s performance has declined significantly. This season, he is averaging a goal every 194.5 minutes in the Premier League, compared to 185.9 minutes last season. While these numbers are not ideal for a striker, he was more dependable in Klopp’s final campaign. One possible explanation for this dip in form could be the difference in Liverpool’s playing style under Slot. The Dutch manager emphasises controlling the game from the centre of the pitch, whereas Klopp’s approach focused on attacking from the final third.

Darwin Núñez is on the verge of becoming a ‘cult hero’ among Liverpool fans. But what does that mean? A cult hero is typically a player who isn’t among the best but is still appreciated by a specific group of supporters. This player may not receive widespread recognition, yet they evoke deep affection and admiration from their dedicated audience. Much like another ‘super-sub,’ Divock Origi.

Origi, another striking talent who arrived with an impressive profile, soon settled into a key role for the team. He would end up scoring 41 goals for Liverpool in all competitions, with less than 30% of those goals coming from the bench. Notably, he was instrumental in key matches, such as the 90-minute success over Everton at Anfield and putting Tottenham out of their misery in the 2019 Champions League final. He also famously netted a brace in the team’s 4-0 victory over Barcelona, overturning a first-leg deficit and sending Liverpool to the aforementioned Madrid showdown.

The Liverpool fanbase never forgets those who come through for their beloved team, and they still look back on Origi fondly, considering him a cult hero.

“They show a lot of love,” Origi said in a Sky Sports interview while on loan at Nottingham Forest. “Even when I’m at the hotel, you always find a Liverpool fan who will talk about it.”

In 2022, supporters voted his second goal against Barcelona at Anfield as the best in the club’s history, clearly demonstrating that they still adore Origi.

Nunez must play a crucial role in helping Liverpool secure the title to establish a lasting legacy. As noted, Origi’s most notable moments were in the Champions League, and with Jota potentially missing the upcoming home match against Lille, Nunez has a chance to start once more, having already done so in four of Liverpool’s last six European fixtures this season.

Slot’s men became the first to secure a spot in the round of 16 under the newly revised League Phase format, achieving victory in every match so far. They have scored 13 goals while allowing only one against them. Liverpool will be placed as a seeded team in the upcoming knockout round. Based on the current standings, they are set to encounter either Sporting, Feyenoord, Benfica, or Monaco in the Round of 16.

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