Liverpool legend Barnes tells Nunez to take comfort from Newcastle star’s turnaround
John Barnes thinks Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez should look at Miguel Almiron’s time at Newcastle United for inspiration in his battle for form.
The Uruguay international joined the Reds in the summer tranfer window from Benfica for the fee potentially rising to £85m with add-ons.
Nunez’s start at Liverpool has by no means been disastrous but supporters were perhaps expecting more than nine goals and three assists in 20 appearances.
Newcastle’s Almiron, who has always showed glimpses of his talent, has scored nine goals in 18 Premier League matches this term after only scoring nine goals in his previous 110 league appearances.
And Liverpool legend Barnes thinks Nunez should take comfort in the way Almiron has turned around his time in the Premier League.
Barnes told BonusCodeBets: “Well once again, similar to Darwin Nunez, when Miguel Almiron was missing chances and not playing well, the fans stuck with him, the players stuck with him.
“The team started to play well and now you can see, the goal he scored against Leicester, he had the composure. Before, he was missing those chances.
“I think Nunez can look at that situation and say that he’s been through something similar and with the right support, because Almiron is a good player, as is Darwin Nunez, you can gain more confidence.
“When you’re giving a hundred percent, the players, the manager and the fans keep supporting you, that’s what’s happened to Almiron.
“He (Almiron) hasn’t become a better player all of a sudden.
“That talent has always been there but it’s that confidence he’s gained from the support of the fans, the players and the manager.”
Liverpool sealed the signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven yesterday for an initial £37m, which could rise to £44m depending on certain add-ons being triggered.
And Barnes was impressed by the price Liverpool managed to negotiatiate, he added: “Absolutely reasonable transfer fee. When you talk about signing a player these days who can come into your team and improve it, the players cost £70-80-90 million.
“So, to get a young player of his quality and a profile that suits us. He’s big, very similar to Darwin Nunez, in stature. He’s good in the air, he works hard and of course, to get him at that price, it’s a steal.
“He can play anywhere across the front three. Darwin Nunez, while he is a centre-forward, you can see him play wide. Not as a winger but as a wide player, while Salah plays down the middle, so he’s very versatile.
“Gakpo is good in the air, he’s tall, he’s rangey, he can run, he works hard. So, I think if you look at the way Liverpool will play with himself, Nunez, Salah, Diaz, Jota, they can play anywhere across the front three.
“He definitely offers competition to Darwin but not to Firmino. Firmino is more of a link-player. He isn’t playing as one of the wide players or as a traditional CF.
“I think Gakpo can play as a traditional CF, as can Nunez, or he can play wide. Firmino drops deep, plays as a false nine whereas Gakpo doesn’t.
“But Gakpo will add competition to attacking places, which is great because of course, it’s good to have options.”
READ MORE: Gakpo’s great. But what about that gaping hole in Liverpool’s midfield, Jurgen?
