Darwin Nunez joined Liverpool the same summer Erling Haaland joined Manchester City, and despite the similarities in their profiles, Nunez has been less successful at his club. Erling Haaland has set the Premier League ablaze, scoring goal after goal, while Darwin Nunez has yet to make his mark for the Reds.
The Uruguayan forward scored 15 goals in 42 appearances for Liverpool last season, nine of them in the Premier League. Although he has scored 17 this season, injury problems may prevent him from surpassing his mark from last season. When is the former Benfica forward due to return to action?
What happened to Darwin Nunez?
Darwin Nunez has been struggling with injuries this season despite racking up 42 appearances in all competitions, with his latest injury coming in the FA Cup clash against Manchester United, which Liverpool lost 4-3 at extra time. Klopp confirmed after the game that Nunez and a few other Liverpool players left Old Trafford with injuries, with Nunez pulling his hamstring in the second half of the game.
“We had some problems,” Klopp confirmed in the wake of their defeat to Manchester United. “Lucho (Luis Diaz) felt his groin, Darwin his hamstring; hopefully, it is not bad, and Cody Gakpo twisted his ankle, I think. I didn’t see it back, so we need to see. I don’t know when they play their first game; it’s a crazy schedule. Let’s hope they can get through that, and the rest of the season starts,” he added.
Darwin Nunez has mainly suffered from hamstring issues this season. A few months ago, the Liverpool forward missed four games due to muscle stiffness, and his recent hamstring issue has made him withdraw from the next international break with Uruguay, with the forward preferring to stay back at Liverpool to regain full fitness ahead of an important period for Jurgen Klopp and his men.
When will Darwin Nunez return to action?
Darwin Nunez remains a pivotal part of Liverpool’s title race this season, so his return to full fitness is impeccable for the club. It is generally believed that the hamstring issue he suffered at Manchester United was a minor setback, with the club doctors hoping he would be ready for Liverpool’s first game after the international break against Brighton & Hove Albion on March 31st.
Nunez’s withdrawal from the upcoming friendlies for Uruguay was simply a precaution. Although Liverpool’s quadruple hopes are gone after Manchester United eliminated them from the FA Cup, they still have everything to fight for. They only trail Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table on goal difference and are clear favorites to claim the Europa League this season.
With ten games to go, the Premier League title race is as tight as ever. Arsenal are in line to win their first league title since the Invincibles in 2004, when they went the whole season without a loss.
Manchester City could also win four consecutive league titles for the first time in the league’s history. Liverpool could as well do a treble of their own, having already wrapped up the Carabao Cup when they beat Chelsea in the final 1-0 with an injury-ravaged team.
