Darwin Nunez repays Arne Slot faith after pre-season phone call with Liverpool star
LIVERPOOL 3-0 BOURNEMOUTH: Luis Diaz bagged an early brace and Darwin Nunez got on the scoresheet as Arne Slot's side romped to a comfortable victory at Anfield
by Simon Mullock · The MirrorDarwin Nunez seems to have finally got the message.
It is two months since Arne Slot rang the Uruguayan striker when he was at his lowest ebb to assure him he has a future at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp lost faith in Nunez ever being able to justify his £85million price-tag - and the pair had become so estranged that the South American could barely bring himself to join in the German’s farewell tribute on the final day of last season.
Nunez then became embroiled in an ugly brawl with baying Colombia fans at the end of a Copa America semi-final defeat in North Carolina a few days before Slot made contact to tell him that he would start with a clean slate. How he needed the pick-me-up.
The Dutchman’s caveat was that the South American would have to prove himself worthy of a place alongside Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz instead of the industrious and consistently excellent Diogo Jota. Nunez was also warned he would have to be patient.
After finally being given his first start under Slot in the sixth game of his reign, it’s fair to say that Liverpool's No 9 is trying to meet his side of the bargain. This is only a start - but the player dubbed by opposition fans as ‘Everything but the Goal’ gave a timely reminder of the quality he possesses with a strike of pure brilliance.
Liverpool were cruising, thanks to two rapid-fire goals from Diaz midway through the first half, when Nunez took possession wide on the right. He has never lacked for power and pace. But as he cut inside onto his left foot, those Liverpool fans sitting behind the goal at the Anfield Road End might have wondered if it was time to duck when the forward shaped to shoot from an improbable angle.
On this occasion, though, the connection was sweet. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Bournemouth's £72m 'keeper on loan from Chelsea, stretched every sinew of his 6ft 2ins frame - but still had no hope as the ball fizzed past him before kissing the far post and nestling in the bottom corner.
Liverpool fans love a trier. But they would love a centre-forward who can find the back of the net on a regular basis even more. If Slot can unpack Nunez's talent to the extent that he's as deadly from six yards as he can be from 30, then Liverpool's manager will have a real player on his hands.
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Nunez gave a reminder of his old self just seconds before being subbed off to a standing ovation when his instinctive close-range stab sent the ball into the chest of Dean Huijsen on the Bournemouth goalline instead of the back of the Kop net.
Remember, Nunez had gone 14 games without a goal. Last season, he scored 11 times and hit the woodwork on another nine occasions - including a Premier League record four times in one 90-minute near-miss against Chelsea.
Little wonder that Klopp threw in the towel. Slot has certainly unlocked the irrepressible Diaz. The Colombian was apparently a target for Barcelona in the summer and might have gone to the Nou Camp had the Catalans been able to raise £50m.
His quick-fire double took his season's tally to five - twice as many as Salah, the three-time Golden Boot winner who usually finishes top of the Anfield goal charts as a matter of course. Diaz fired home with his right foot in the 26th minute after making the most of Kepa’s crazy rush from his goal when Ibrahima Konate launched a long ball forward.
Two minutes later, the Colombian showed he is equally deadly with his left after being teed up by Trent Alexander-Arnold. When Nunez memorably made it 3-0 eight minutes from the break, Andoni Iraola's men had been given the full experience of the Anfield effect.
Bournemouth edged the opening exchanges and only a tight VAR call prevented them going ahead early when Antoine Semenyo slid in to score from six yards. It was only a few weeks ago that Bournemouth scored three times in nine dramatic late minutes to beat Everton just across Stanley Park.
It wasn't to be this time, but the fact the visitors didn't fold completely is a testament to the job Iraola is doing on the south coast.
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