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Featured Image Credit: Image: TikTok/@aliisn0k
Topics: Darwin Nunez, Liverpool, Premier League, Benfica, West Ham United
Josh Lawless
Topics: Darwin Nunez, Liverpool, Premier League, Benfica, West Ham United
Fans think they've found the moment Darwin Nunez became the fastest player in the Premier League.
The Uruguayan striker bagged his first goal at Anfield with what proved to be the winning effort against West Ham on Wednesday night.
He produced a glorious header to nod in Kostas Tsimikas' teasing cross from the left, taking his Liverpool tally to four in all competitions.
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Nunez was extremely lively and forced Lukasz Fabianski into a number of strong saves in the first half.
But Nunez also set a new record in the game after clocking a top speed of 38 km/h, which equates to 23.61 miles per hour.
It was reported that Nunez, an £85 million signing from Benfica, had smashed the previous record of 37.802 km/h set by Manchester City defender Kyle Walker two years ago.
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And fans on social media reckon it came during a dart for the ball in the early exchanges against the Hammers.
Roberto Firmino played a ball into the channel for Nunez to chase and that he did.
Kurt Zouma looked favourite to get to the ball but Nunez was rapid off the mark and beat him to it after a blistering burst of pace.
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He then held off the defender and ensured his team kept possession of the ball.
Despite his gangly 6 ft 2 frame, Nunez is deceptively fast and was the second-fastest player in the Champions League last season.
Playing for Benfica, he reached a top speed of 36.5 km/h. In the all-time Premier League list, Wolves' roadrunner Adama Traore is third on the all-time list with a top speed of 37.787 km/h.
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Nunez was taken in the 57th minute as a precaution by Jurgen Klopp, who was delighted with his first home goal.
"It is important. He has scored now a couple of times in the last few games. He arrived 100 per cent, now even with numbers, which is fine," Klopp said in his press conference.
"He felt a little bit the muscles at half-time but it was all fine and after five minutes [of the second half] I was just a bit concerned about long sprints for him and balls where he stretches his legs.
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"I thought, 'Come on, we cannot take that risk' and that’s why we changed."
Liverpool are back in action on Saturday when they face bottom club Nottingham Forest away from home in the early kick-off.