Top News
Next Story
NewsPoint

Alan Shearer names one 'glaring thing' he would change about Liverpool's Darwin Nunez

Send Push

Alan Shearer said that if he was asked to work on one aspect of the Liverpool striker's game.

arrived from Benfica for a huge transfer fee in 2022 but has scored just 35 goals in 109 appearances for the Reds, and has faced heavy criticism for his profligate shooting.

The Uruguayan has scored just twice so far this season, averaging a goal every 319 minutes, and watched on from the bench as — a natural winger — was preferred to him as a striker and this week.

Arne Slot claimed that up front, with Diogo Jota still out injured.

Even so, Diaz's performance up front emphasized just how important it is for a team's striker to be a dependable source of goals. Shearer was asked in a Q&A with what he would do to try and improve Nunez and responded: "The one obvious, glaring thing: his finishing should be a lot better.

"He gets into so many good positions, his running ability is excellent, but when he has time to think, it doesn’t quite work for him. When it’s instant and instinctive, it does. He scored two great goals late on against Newcastle last season, so it’s in there, but it isn’t reliable or consistent.

"There’s only one way to change that, and that’s practice, practice and practice. I would have him doing every finishing drill going every day so it becomes natural. I did it. As a kid, the best bit of advice I was given was from Jack Hixon, the scout who discovered me. There would always be better players than me, and he said: 'So make sure you work harder than any of them.'

"Klopp was more rock ’n’ roll, I guess. The new tune is quieter, but when they (Liverpool) go for you as they did during the second half against Brighton and Leverkusen, they go for you properly. Nunez does that exceptionally well but, as a forward, it’s vital that you chip in with goals. His finishing is still very erratic."

Explore more on Newspoint
Loving Newspoint? Download the app now