Darwin Nunez of Liverpool scored in a 5-0 win over Bolivia on Thursday, securing Uruguay’s top spot in its Copa America group.
After defeating Panama 3-1 in the Copa America opener, Uruguay and Nunez maintained their impressive scoring form. Facundo Pellistri of Manchester United scored the opening goal after just eight minutes, and Nunez doubled the lead with a left-footed strike off a neat through ball from Maximiliano Araujo.
Uruguay punished a tired Bolivia in the final 15 minutes, with goals from Araujo, Federico Valverde, and Rodrigo Bentancur. Nunez is in top form for Uruguay, scoring for the seventh game in a row on Thursday night, demonstrating everything new Liverpool manager Arne Slot needs to see ahead of next season.
Nunez, 25, joined Liverpool for a club record $107 million in 2022 and has scored 20 goals in 65 Premier League appearances. The striker has been in and out of form since joining Liverpool, but if his Copa America performance levels carry over into the 2024-25 Premier League season, he could be in for a breakout season.
The Uruguayan has never been short of scoring opportunities at Liverpool, having taken 192 shots in 65 Premier League games. Of those 192 shots, 83 were on target, but the missed opportunities have stood out.
Nunez has missed 47 major chances in the Premier League, which equates to 0.72 missed opportunities per game. But Nunez is adored by Liverpool fans, who believe he will become one of the world’s best strikers, which could be proven next season.
After making a big move to the Premier League, some strikers take their time settling in and are presented with numerous opportunities in front of goal. That has never been an issue for Nunez, and it’s only a matter of time before everything comes together and he becomes lethal in front of the net.
Luck has also played a role, with Nunez hitting the frame of the goal 14 times in 65 games, the most in the Premier League since his arrival in 2022. Nunez is gaining confidence and evolving into a ruthless No. 9 after scoring in seven consecutive international games and ten in his last eight.
Liverpool is expecting a transitional season under Slot, following nine years under former head coach Jurgen Klopp. While Slot works to establish his philosophy, goals will be critical to securing points, and Nunez appears to be up to the task.
The Uruguayan has the opportunity to prove to Slot that he deserves to start every game, as Nunez rarely lasted 90 minutes when Klopp was in charge. The entire Liverpool roster joined the team because of Klopp, and Nunez admitted that his departure stunned the locker room.
“We were all a little shocked by Klopp’s departure, no one expected it,” Nunez recalled. “It’s a shame he’s leaving. Personally, I would have liked him to leave on a high note, winning, but that did not happen. It’s also unfortunate for the players. I wish him the best in the world.