Darwin Núñez was on the scoresheet for Uruguay in their opening game at the Copa América. It was no surprise to see the Liverpool striker find the net in the 3-1 win against Panama in Miami given his recent form for Marcelo Bielsa’s team. It was Núñez’s ninth goal in his last six games for Uruguay. The 25-year-old has scored 12 goals in 24 international caps, with his form hotting up since Bielsa took charge last year.
Núñez is the top scorer in the South American qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup and his goals have come in big games. He opened the scoring in a 2-0 victory against Brazil in October and followed that up adding one in a 2-0 win against world champions Argentina at La Bombonera in November. He has also chipped in with goals against Colombia and Bolivia.
Some time with the national team will do Núñez no harm after a difficult end to the season with Liverpool. He only provided one goal and one assist in his final 11 league appearances, and had to settle for cameo appearances off the bench at the end of the campaign as Jürgen Klopp opted to start Cody Gakpo.
Núñez has been a divisive figure since he signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2022. After scoring 26 goals and providing four assists in his final season at Benfica, he was snapped up by Liverpool for £85m to replace Sadio Mané. Núñez has struggled to replicate that form in the Premier League. He has scored 20 goals and laid on 11 assists in two Premier League seasons – hardly worth shouting about given he plays in such a dynamic, energetic team. By way of comparison, Sadio Mané – who left the summer that Núñez arrived – scored 27 goals and provided 10 assists in his last two seasons at Liverpool.
Núñez is not short of confidence in front of goal: he took 4.7 shots per 90 minutes in the league this past season – the most of any player in the division. But he only scored 11 goals, underperforming his xG by 5.4 goals. It wasn’t a great season for forwards on Merseyside: Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the highest underperformance in the league (underperforming by 5.9 goals) and Luis Díaz was not far behind (3.9 goals). Even Mohamed Salah, who scored 18 for Liverpool in the league, failed to match his expected goals, falling short by 3.2.
Darwin Núñez has had a mixed time at Liverpool. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Núñez is not the most reliable finisher (he only scored with 14% of his shots last season) but Liverpool are a more threatening side when he is on the pitch – their xG increases when he plays. His performances for Uruguay should give Arne Slot food for thought. The Dutchman favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation at Feyenoord, with a lone striker leading the line. The Mexico forward Santiago Giménez fulfilled that job last season and finished the campaign with 23 league goals.
Since taking over as Uruguay manager last year, Bielsa has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Núñez playing as the lone frontman. While not too dissimilar to Klopp’s favoured 4-3-3 setup, the system used by Bielsa and Slot means there is another player closer to the striker rather than a third midfielder operating as a go-between. Núñez has been prolific for Uruguay when playing in front of a No 10 who creates chances for him. He could do the same for Liverpool.
Uruguay start record-chasing Copa América campaign with win over Panama
Núñez is tailor-made to be the focal point in a 4-2-3-1 formation given his good hold-up play, speed, power and ability to provide for teammates – he set up 13 goals for Liverpool in all competitions last season, the joint-highest in the squad along with Salah. You only have to watch him play for Uruguay to appreciate how devastatingly effective he could be under Slot, whose Feyenoord team often hurt opponents on the counter in the Eredivisie. Only RKC Waalwijk (six) scored more counterattacking goals than Feyenoord (five) in 2023-24.
Slot should give Núñez a fair crack. Now entering his third year in England, it’s not necessarily a sliding doors summer for the polarising forward but a strong performance at the Copa América will certainly weigh in his favour. His current focus is on helping Uruguay try to win a record 16th Copa América title. If he continues to shine under Bielsa, it bodes well for his return to Liverpool. If Slot sticks with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, Núñez could be the ideal fit.
