Darwin Nunez left Liverpool this summer after three seasons and now can't stop scoring for new side Al-Hilal
Darwin Nunez of Team Al-Hilal FC celebrates scoring
Former Liverpool star Darwin Nunez is off to a flyer with new club Al-Hilal
(Image: Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez sparked Al-Hilal's fight-back in their AFC Champions League opener against Al-Duhail on Tuesday night, scoring his second goal in as many matches for his new club.
Al-Hilal began their continental group stage against the eight-time Qatari champions and found themselves a goal behind after 37 minutes. The Saudi outfit regrouped at half-time and it was Nunez who levelled the tie up in the 57th minute of play.
The ex-Liverpool No.9 waited patiently in space that was left open in the penalty area. His shot may have looked mishit into the turf, but the bounce of the ball proved deceptive to the opposition goalkeeper.
Former AC Milan full-back Theo Hernandez completed Al-Hilal's victory with a volley from the edge of the 18-yard box roughly 10 minutes later.
Liverpool made the decision to part ways with Nunez this summer. In the three seasons since his £64m arrival from Benfica, the Uruguayan scored 40 times in 143 appearances in all competitions.
His first two seasons under Jurgen Klopp - although coming with criticism - saw a steady incline to his contributions in front of goal as Liverpool won the Community Shield and Carabao Cup.
Arne Slot then took over before the 2024/25 campaign and the club went on to lift the Premier League title, although Nunez saw his role diminish under the new head coach, scoring only seven overall and not starting a match in the last three months of the season.
His £43.3m sale to Al-Hilal went through and it would seem the striker has not looked back, scoring three in as many pre-season fixtures before making a statement of intent with strikes in his latest two competitive appearances for his new club.
Nunez looks like a player who is thriving without the pressures of top-level European football.
As he and others departed Slot's title-winning team over the summer, the Reds went out and recruited extensively. That included the arrival of two centre forwards.
The first was Hugo Ekitike, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m. The 23-year-old went on to net in his first three competitive appearances for his new club and also added an assist to his record in that run of matches.
He has continued to lead the line for Slot's side since, whilst £125m deadline day signing Alexander Isak waits for his opportunity to play.
The former Newcastle United man was held back from playing against Burnley on Sunday, though Liverpool have confirmed his involvement in the squad for Wednesday night's Champions League match against Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
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