Metro
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira can see why Liverpool shelled out a club-record transfer fee for “complete striker” Darwin Nunez.
Nunez cost Liverpool an initial fee of £64million, that could rise to £85m with add-ons, from Benfica this summer, which would see him eclipse Virgil van Dijk as the most expensive player in the club’s history. The 23-year-old forward impressed on his Premier League debut, coming off the bench against Fulham to help Liverpool earn a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
After replacing Roberto Firmino, he was involved in lots of goalmouth action and ended the match with a goal and an assist. The impact means he is in contention to start for the Reds in their match against Palace at Anfield on Monday evening.
Vieira says he has studied Nunez’s game and has told his players what to expect from Anfield’s latest star striker. “We watch games, watch football, watch it from all around Europe. He was scoring goals at his previous team and he’s well known as a striker. The players know about him,” he said.
“He can run in behind, stretch the opposition team. He’s closing down back fours and centre-backs. He doesn’t give them much time on the ball – he’s a fighter, he’s determined and a hard working centre-forward.
“He’s the profile of a modern centre-forward who defends really well and works hard but at the same time runs in behind and scores goals. When you look at his price tag you’re not surprised. He’s the complete striker.”
Nunez was bought on the strength of his 48 goals in 85 games for Benfica, but also because his style of play fits in nicely with Liverpool’s. The Uruguay international replaced Firmino on the pitch at Craven Cottage and his teammate has set the standards in terms of work-rate at the top end of the team in recent years…
