Darwin Núñez was signed to enhance Liverpool’s reputation for clinical finishing this summer, as he proved to be Europe’s most efficient finisher last season....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Liverpool have developed a reputation for ruthlessness in front of goal under Jürgen Klopp. Over the years, the Reds have been clinical in the final third for the most part, through Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah in particular.
The former joined Bayern Munich this summer, with the Anfield recruitment team tasked with sourcing a replacement. Darwin Núñez was deemed to be the ideal candidate, and for good reason.
In addition to his relatively complete profile, the Uruguayan striker looked even more efficient than Mané based on his showings at Benfica. Liverpool were planning to enhance their clinical edge moving forward, with a proper striker added to their ranks.
Last season, Núñez converted 27.2 per cent of his shots into goals, which placed him top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga once compared with every other player to have posted at least 55 attempts on goal.
In fact, no player across Europe’s top six leagues converted their shots into goals to a more efficient level than Núñez. He proved to be a real marksman, capable of seizing moments whenever they emerged.
For perspective, Mané posted a conversion rate in the Premier League of around 18 per cent last season, and Salah averaged marginally less. Diogo Jota converted roughly 17 per cent of his shots, which truly emphasises the 27.2 per cent posted by Núñez.
The large majority of offensive players tend to convert around 15 to 20 per cent of their shots into goals. Even the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane tend to follow the theme.
On top of his conversion, Núñez hit the target with great regularity. He posted a total of 85 shots in the Portuguese top-flight, hitting the target with 44 of them which equates to 51.8 per cent.
Mané, Salah, Jota and Luis Díaz all found the target with between 36.3 and 37.4 per cent of their shots in the Premier League. The numbers involved capture what Núñez is about, and they also offer an insight into the peculiar nature of Liverpool’s start to the new season.
Through their first two Premier League matches this term, the Reds have conceded first in both games and delivered two disappointing draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace. Crucially, Liverpool generated six big chances across the two bouts, scoring just one of them.
Núñez in particular was presented with a few opportunities to convert against Crystal Palace on Monday night, but his end product wasn’t as sharp as expected. His difficult night was epitomised by a red card around the hour mark after he attempted to headbutt Joachim Andersen, who had been engaging in mind games throughout the match.
Núñez will miss the next three fixtures through suspension but once he returns and plays his natural game at Anfield, the goals should flow as they did in Portugal and Liverpool’s ruthless edge should return.
