Photo By Irina R. H./Europa Press via Getty Images
Photo By Irina R. H./Europa Press via Getty Images
After a fast start at Liverpool, Victor Munoz slightly faded from the spotlight during September.
Having won a penalty on his first Premier League appearance, and scored a belter on his second, Munoz had looked ready to grasp his chance and become a regular starter for Liverpool. However, he has not especially kicked on since his goal against Nottingham Forest, and played only 18 minutes of the Reds’ most recent fixture; their 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
That is how he headed into an international break in which he must have been itching for game time. After failing to play a single minute during Spain’s triumphant 2026 World Cup campaign, Munoz could have been forgiven for feeling like the forgotten man.
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He did not feature at all during their 3-2 win over England at Wembley, but after playing 22 minutes in the following match against Croatia, Munoz was given a full 45 minutes as La Roja beat Czechia 3-1 on Saturday. Coming on for Lamine Yamal on the right side of Spain’s attack, the Liverpool speedster can be pleased with his impact.
Munoz forces a goal for Spain
One of the standout things about Munoz during his time at Liverpool so far has been his ability to switch naturally between wings. Though he arrived having played mostly as a left winger for Osasuna, it is from the right where he has looked most dangerous.
That is where Luis De La Fuente deployed him on Saturday, and in replacing Yamal he obviously had plenty to live up to. The Barcelona superstar scored his fourth goal in three matches during the break so far in the first-half, and his form is clearly going to make it difficult for Munoz to play much in this position.
Nevertheless, he quickly went about showing why De La Fuente continues to pick him in his group, attacking his full-back and displaying the pace which is the biggest feature of his game.
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Munoz makes things happen, and it was no surprise that he managed to create one chance and a further big chance during the second-half, ultimately forcing Mikel Merino’s game-killing third goal.
Racing down the right to pick up a loose ball, Munoz made his way into the Czechia penalty area, cutting across the defender with his first touch. His attempted shot was easily parried by the goalkeeper, but landed straight at the feet of Merino, who slotted home.
It was a show of how difficult the 23-year-old can be to stop, and an illustration of how he can cause damage even if his finishing is not the tidiest.
That slightly untidy side of his game was unfortunately seen just prior to the goal, when Munoz probably should have added Spain’s third goal himself. Collecting the ball inside the top right of the penalty area, the Liverpool forward had a clear sight of goal, but dragged his shot just wide of the far post.
Otherwise, this was a good 45-minute display from Munoz, who completed 19 of his 21 attempted passes, found a teammate with his only cross of the game and even managed a defensive contribution.
Clearly, it is going to be nearly impossible for Munoz to shift Yamal out of the way in this right-sided slot. But with the No. 7 on his shirt, it is also obvious that he has a bigger role to play under De La Fuente.
Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Liverpool DP
Liverpool DP
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images