Jamie Carragher has posed severe questions about the credentials of Darwin Nunez, suggesting Liverpool might have to think about his future.
Wednesday night was not a good one for Liverpool and their supporters. Not only did they drop more points in the title race after a second win in a row, but they also did it against bitter rival Everton. Sean Dyche masterminded a famous victory and handed Jurgen Klopp his first loss at Goodison Park in his nine years as Liverpool boss.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were clinical in front of goal, as they put Liverpool to the sword with goals in either half. The result took Everton eight points clear of the relegation zone, and that too after they were deducted eight points in total for financial mismanagement on two separate occasions.
On the red side of the city, there are some disgruntled faces as Liverpool might have potentially thrown away the title. Consecutive losses to Crystal Palace and Everton have reduced their chances to lift the Premier League in Jurgen Klopp’s last season as their manager. This has infuriated the supporters more, especially after the defeat at Goodison.
On Liverpool’s performance, former defender Jamie Carragher was not too impressed, as he singled out a few of their prominent stars after the defeat. In his post-match analysis on Sky Sports, Carragher gave his thoughts on Darwin Nunez, and his comments appeared on the Merseyside outlet Liverpool Echo, where he even questioned his long-term future.
In what appears like a long list of things, this is what Jamie Carragher said about Darwin Nunez. “The chance that Nunez misses before half-time, that is unforgivable at this level. That is not acceptable at this level, certainly when Liverpool are going for the title.”
“I think I’m at the stage now with Nunez where I don’t think there is a question to ask,” Carragher said. “I think after two years at the club – and I have been guilty of this – you want him to do well because there is so much that you like because he gives everything, he runs and causes trouble and gets the odd goal and gets an assist.”
“But after two years when Liverpool this season are going to the title and those big games, you need your man to score away at Old Trafford, away at Goodison, in the European game at Atalanta. There is no time to waste, this is not October or November. This is the business end of the title.”
“In terms of Nunez and where the club go forward now, I think after two years, we have all been in squads where someone comes in and maybe you talk about the first year and maybe say, okay he’s getting up to speed with and he’s improving, and it looked like he was at the start of the season but it has ground to a halt.”
“You are looking at it now, and after two years, I don’t think there is going to be a massive improvement in him. What we have seen in the last two years is what he is. He can cause trouble; he can be erratic with his finishing. I don’t think it is going to be enough to win you the biggest trophies so I think there is a big decision to be made on him in the summer.”
Nunez was guilty of missing some good chances during the Everton clash and continued his trend of doing so throughout the season at different stages. The Uruguayan and Mohamed Salah have been questioned in recent times, with the latter not being the same player since his return from the AFCON and the injury he carried from the tournament.
As per Carragher’s underlying comments, Liverpool should consider Nunez’s future, while Salah might leave for Saudi Arabia in the close season. As for their title challenge, with four games left, it is difficult to see others like Arsenal and Manchester City slipping up, as things are out of their hands, and the Reds are now a distant third favourite to lift the championship.
