Liverpool just one step away from Arne Slot dream as ideal Diogo Jota scenario within sight
Former Premier League striker Ian Wright reckons Liverpool will be one of the Premier League title favourites if Darwin Nunez can find some consistent goalscoring form. The Reds sit top of the standings going into October's international break after their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Diogo Jota scored the decisive goal at Selhurst Park, while his Uruguayan teammate was an unused substitute on Arne Slot's bench. Nunez's Liverpool difficulties have continued this season as he struggles to offer a return worthy of his eye-catching £85million price-tag.
Arsenal and Manchester City are largely considered as main favourites in the Premier League title race, with the Reds largely unfavoured due to Slot's first spell in England's top-flight after replacing Jurgen Klopp as head coach. Nunez has been consigned to featuring off the bench so far with his only start in the league coming in the 3-0 win over AFC Bournemouth, where he also opened his account for the season.
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Wright believes that Nunez isn't the Reds' main man and he's more of an "impact player" behind Jota. He said: "Can you imagine, can you imagine if Nunez could score consistently?"
"That's a lot of money to play for a squad player. I see [Diogo] Jota as the main man, where as he's an impact player and that's a lot of money for an impact player.
"I've seen enough of him now. I thought at some stage it would click for him, but it's not clicked in for him. If it had clicked in for him then Liverpool are, definitely, easily favourites, easily one of the favourites. Liverpool with a firing Darwin Nunez, I'm telling you, it's a massive problem [for their rivals]."
Nunez was banned for September's international break following an incident while on Uruguay duty after a Copa America defeat against Colombia. However, he's now back with Marcelo Bielsa's side and, speaking in September, Slot reiterated his confidence in the 25-year-old.
He said: "It's always difficult because players, but also the media, only think you have confidence in a player if you play him. We have confidence in all of them, otherwise you don't bring [any] player on if you're 3-1 up half-an-hour before the end, or against Nottingham Forest he came on half-an-hour before the end.
"There's a lot of confidence in him. But there are two players for that position and I could even come up with more who could play in that position. He's in competition with Diogo, who has done really well.
"But many games have to be played and there will be enough time to judge Darwin. If he improves and [with] how he improves, he can do special things for the club."