Premier League legend Alan Shearer claims the criticism of Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is “grossly unfair”.
The Uruguay international has had a topsy-turvy first six months at Liverpool, having signed from Benfica for an initial transfer fee of £64million.
On one hand, Nunez has scored 10 goals in 23 appearances this term, a respectable return for a player adapting to a new country and style of play.
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Equally, the 23-year-old has also been ridiculed by fans for his erratic style, while nobody has fluffed more big chances in the Premier League this season (15 according to Opta).
The Premier League’s record goalscorer, Shearer, has come out in support of Nunez, insisting that the criticism he has received from certain quarters has been “grossly unfair”.
Shearer on Nunez treatment
Shearer insisted that while Nunez is raw, his game will improve.
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The former Newcastle, Blackburn and Southampton No.9 added that comparisons between striker and Manchester City's Erling Haaland were “unfair”.
Writing in the Athletic, Shearer said: “Strikers dwell on misses, but the time you worry and the time that sleep deserts you is the time chances don’t come.
“Big moments can linger and you replay them in your mind — nothing stays with you like a penalty gone awry — but they’re rarely symptoms of sickness in your game.
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“That’s why I have few concerns about Darwin Nunez and his form for Liverpool because his ability is obvious and the rest he can learn. If he wants to improve, he will."
Shearer revealed that in the Premier League era only Robbie Fowler, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota had netted 10 goals sooner for Liverpool.
He added: “Compare his 10 goals in all competitions to Erling Haaland’s 27 for Manchester City, factor in the Norwegian’s cheaper cost and Liverpool’s struggles in the Premier League, plus those cruel chants from opposition fans about him being “just a s*** Andy Carroll”, and it doesn’t look great, does it?
“Most of that is grossly unfair, though. Nunez is a modern forward in the same kind of mould as Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane rather than a traditional centre-forward, and he is certainly not a goalscoring freak like Haaland (which is meant as the sincerest compliment). But then, who is?
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“It wasn’t too long ago that a goal every other game would be viewed as a fine return for most players and perhaps Haaland, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have changed the way we view that. But they are outliers, not the norm. Not everybody can do it.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Alan Shearer, Darwin Nunez, Football, Liverpool, Erling Haaland