Darwin Núñez to leave Liverpool after unpredictable but memorable Anfield spell | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez: Farewell to Football’s Unpredictable Showman

Liverpool’s agreement to sell Darwin Núñez to Al Hilal marks the end of one of Anfield’s most chaotic and compelling modern football stories. Three years, countless headlines, and a career that never quite settled into the rhythm expected of an £85 million signing — yet Núñez leaves not as a flop, but as a cult hero.

For Liverpool supporters, admiration is earned rather than given. Núñez, despite his erratic form, became a figure of warmth and fascination. The Uruguayan’s blend of unfiltered energy, occasional brilliance, and the capacity for sheer mischief made him a player impossible to ignore.

Photo: IMAGO

Chaotic debut and instant notoriety

His home debut against Crystal Palace was meant to be a statement. Instead, it became infamous. Marked tightly by Joachim Andersen, Núñez’s frustrations boiled over. “Nothing stupid, Darwin,” might have been Jurgen Klopp’s imagined advice — yet in typical fashion, he ignored the script. A headbutt, a red card, and a stunned Anfield; this was the moment Liverpool fans first glimpsed the unpredictable heart of their new striker.

Injured but unstoppable in celebration

In the 2024 Carabao Cup final, injury kept Núñez off the pitch, but not out of the action. As Virgil van Dijk’s 118th-minute winner rippled the net, Núñez — supposedly sidelined — vaulted a barrier to join the celebrations on the touchline. It was a moment that summed him up: uncontainable, involved, and driven by joy.

Fine margins, woodwork, and missed chances

For all his effort, Núñez’s finishing often veered towards the maddening. In the Europa League, he dazzled with a skilful run, rounded the goalkeeper, and — somehow — hit the post. Ryan Gravenberch converted the rebound, sparing blushes, but the sequence became a microcosm of his Liverpool career.

January 2024 against Chelsea provided another entry for the scrapbook: hitting the woodwork four times, twice from the post and twice from the crossbar — including a penalty. It set a Premier League record, and perhaps proved that luck was rarely on his side.

Last-minute heroics and lasting affection

If the misses frustrated, the moments that mattered most thrilled. From his late brace against Newcastle to decisive winners against Brentford and Nottingham Forest, Núñez developed a knack for timing his contributions to perfection.

As Liverpool turn the page, they do so knowing they are losing a footballer who was never boring. Núñez departs as Captain Chaos — a one-of-a-kind figure who gave supporters moments they will recount for years.