Darwin Nunez will have a big season, say Liverpool legends Ian Rush and John Aldridge

SINGAPORE – Lauded as a star addition to Liverpool’s ranks, Darwin Nunez had an underwhelming campaign in the 2022-23 season.

The Uruguay striker, who joined the Reds from Portuguese side Benfica in a club-record £85 million (S$144.8 million) deal, scored just nine times in 29 league appearances last season, while also struggling with niggling injuries.

However, former Liverpool strikers Ian Rush and John Aldridge are predicting a “big season” for the 24-year-old, with the former banking on Nunez to match Manchester City juggernaut Erling Haaland’s output. The Norwegian scored an English Premier League record of 36 goals last season.

Rush, the club’s all-time top goalscorer with 346 goals in all competitions, told The Straits Times: “The best thing, I always say, is he’s never scared to miss. That’s important because he’s getting in the right positions.

“Just look at the number of goals Haaland scored last season. There’s a chance Darwin can do similar things this season because he’s creating chances and it’s all about having confidence. Off the pitch, he speaks a lot better English which boosts his confidence as well.”

The Reds legends were in town on Wednesday to attend a football clinic for youths with disadvantaged backgrounds at the British High Commissioner’s residence.

Co-organised by Liverpool and the British High Commission, the clinic had 20 participants from Boys’ Town and 10 from Ulu Pandan Community Sports Network, who took part in drills under the guidance of the club’s coaching team.

Rush said that Nunez will be firing on all cylinders in the upcoming season, which kicks off on Aug 11. He has “100 per cent confidence” in the striker, adding: “Last season he was still settling in... now I think it’s going to be a really big season for him, and I’m looking forward to it. He’s now ready for the big stage.”

The 61-year-old cited Nunez’s time at Benfica as a reason for his faith, noting that the young player just needs time to get used to his new environment.

In his first season, Nunez scored six goals in 29 Primeira Liga appearances, before going on a goal-filled run in the 2021-22 season, netting 26 times in 28 matches.

The striker did not get on the scoresheet in the Reds’ 4-3 defeat by Bayern Munich at the National Stadium on Wednesday, but he has racked up four goals in three previous friendlies.

Besides Nunez, Liverpool also boast a strong core of forwards, including the likes of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo – whom the two former players believe can only be an asset to the Reds this season.

Aldridge, who has the sixth-highest goal tally in the history of English league football, said the players will be hungrier than ever to nail down a starting spot in the team.

He added: “There’s pressure on all of them because there are five of them, and they all want to play. To keep your place in the team, you got to score goals. They’re all champing at the bit and (the competition) is healthy for the team.”

The club have also recruited midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, while Fabinho, captain Jordan Henderson and vice-captain James Milner have departed.

Aldridge, 64, said: “The midfield balance has to be right and a defensive midfielder will be key.”

On the team’s hopes for the season, he cheekily said “quadruple”, before explaining: “Getting back into the top four and the Champions League is a massive challenge. Manchester City are strong, Manchester United and Newcastle (United) will probably get better, and Chelsea and Tottenham (Hotspur) can’t get any worse.”