What happened to Darwin Nunez with 30 minutes remaining shows truth Liverpool know about striker

If anyone were in doubt of the Liverpool fans’ sentiments towards Darwin Nunez, the actions of the Anfield crowd on Saturday afternoon surely put paid to that. There was half an hour on the clock when supporters in all corners of the stadium rose to their feet to applaud the Uruguayan.

The inspiration behind their show of adulation, though, was not a goal but a block, with Nunez having raced to charge down an opponent and send the ball cannoning out for a throw-in.

The striker has endured a rather turbulent Liverpool career to date and, despite a healthy return of 18 goals in all competitions last term, there has been a growing sense that this season could be his final opportunity to prove himself in a red shirt.

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It was significant, then, that Arne Slot chose to hand Nunez his first start of the campaign against Bournemouth, with the need for the forward to seize his opportunity imperative.

By Nunez’s standards, he was relatively quiet in the opening exchanges, though he did draw a save from Kepa Arrizabalaga after turning smartly in the box. But as the hosts grew into the game, so too did their No.9.

After an early scare which saw the lively - and, more crucially, offside - Antoine Semenyo bundle the ball into the back of the Liverpool net, Slot’s side played with the sort of red-hot intensity that was sorely lacking against Nottingham Forest last weekend and deservedly took the lead after Luis Diaz beat Kepa to a long ball, finishing expertly into an empty net.

It wasn’t long before the Columbian made it 2-0 and, with Liverpool in the ascendency, Nunez grabbed his moment in the spotlight, curling a sublime effort past the Bournemouth goalkeeper after a smart flick-on from Mohamed Salah.

Nunez’s relief was palpable as he wheeled away in celebration and he looked visibly moved as his name was belted out with gusto by the Kop.

Though he didn’t manage to add to his tally in the second-half, he played as if he had been unshackled from all the uncertainty that has defined his season to date. If Slot harbours ambitions of crowning his maiden Anfield campaign with some silverware, the Liverpool boss will certainly hope that is the case.