Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has opened up on his relationship with Luis Suarez, who he says has a habit of reaching out when things aren't going well
Comments
Sport
Darwin Nunez
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has spoken about his bond with Luis Suarez
(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has opened up about the influence Luis Suarez has on his confidence as he navigates his career at Anfield. The Reds are currently soaring in the Premier League and boast a 15-point lead over Arsenal, but the forward has often had to settle for a place on the bench.
Nunez played a pivotal role in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday. The 25-year-old tucked away the goal that drew Arne Slot's team level, setting the stage for Mohamed Salah's double from the penalty spot to clinch the victory.
In a season of ups and downs, Nunez has netted seven goals, trailing last season's tally by 11. However, his former Uruguay team-mate Suarez, who starred for the Reds during his three-and-a-half-year stint at the club, remains a supportive presence for Nunez.
"Yes, we always talk. Luis always shows up when things are going badly. He doesn't like to appear much when things are going well," Nunez shared with TNT Sports Mexico. "And that says a lot about him, about his character and quality as a person. Whenever we can, we chat a bit about football and life in general."
Nunez's performance against Southampton has not gone unnoticed, having scored and won Liverpool's first penalty of the match. He drew praise from Suarez, who took to Instagram to post: "Clear goalscorer! YNWA."
The striker's showing also earned him plaudits from Slot, who had previously called out the striker's reaction to a miss in their draw against Aston Villa last month. "That is also the life of a number nine," the Liverpool boss said. "You go from missing a chance to scoring an important goal to missing a chance again. But today, especially in the second half. you also saw the work rate he can bring to the team."
Darwin Nunez and Luis Suarez
Darwin Nunez and Luis Suarez played alongside each other 13 times for Uruguay
Nunez is experiencing a wave of good form, having also provided a vital assist in the recent Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Despite finding the net against Southampton too, the forward remains measured as the season enters a crucial phase.
"First of all, I'm very happy. I'm happy for the team that has been doing things well," Nunez said. "Today it was a bit tough to get the three points, but we managed to pull through.
"We need to keep going; this isn't over yet. There are many matches ahead and we all know the Premier League is very difficult, but we have to keep working. Now we need to focus on the Champions League match [against PSG on Tuesday] and try to recover to be in good shape for the game."