Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez is expected to lead the line for Uruguay in Bolivia tonight
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Uruguay's forward #09 Darwin Nunez lies on the ground past Argentina's goalkeeper #23 Emiliano Martinez during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Uruguay and Argentina at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, on March 21, 2025. (Photo by Dante Fernandez / AFP) (Photo by DANTE FERNANDEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Uruguay's forward Darwin Nunez lies on the ground past Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez during Friday's World Cup qualifier in Montevideo
(Image: DANTE FERNANDEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a difficult season for Darwin Nunez. A return of just seven goals in 40 matches for the Liverpool striker is testament to that.
The 25-year-old may well feel he is a lightning rod for criticism given his fellow Reds forwards Diogo Jota (10 games without a goal), Luis Diaz (1 goal in 18 matches) are hardly pulling up any trees at present themselves.
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But scrutiny comes with the territory for Nunez given he remains the club's £85m record transfer following his mega money move from Benfica in the summer of 2022.
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It is fair to say the move has not entirely worked out and there was speculation over the Uruguay international in the January transfer window when he reportedly attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League, and further reports of links to Atletico Madrid.
With Liverpool head coach Arne Slot tipped to freshen up his forward line in the summer, there is a question over whether this season will be Nunez's last at Anfield.
Former Reds striker Stan Collymore, who broke the club's transfer record when he made an £8.5m switch from Nottingham Forest in 1995, has even proposed that Nunez could be involved in an audacious swap deal with Newcastle United Carabao Cup final hero Alexander Isak.
But while the Liverpool No.9 faces an uncertain future, he continues to have the full backing of his manager on the international stage.
Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa made that clear on the eve of Uruguay's World Cup qualifier at Bolivia tonight.
Victory would move La Celeste up to second in the standings behind runaway leaders Argentina, who ran out 1-0 winners when the teams met in Montevideo on Friday night.
And, ahead of the showdown with Bolivia, Bielsa replied when asked about Nunez's form: "I saw Darwin with a lot of enthusiasm, with a lot of willingness and excitement.
"I reaffirm my responsibility in moments when Uruguay loses, because our team is clearly designed to defend without stopping attacking, and to attack without stopping defending, and it's prepared to unbalance. Individuals speak for themselves: if a team has Darwin, (Giorgian) De Arrascaeta, (Federico) Valverde, (Rodrigo) Bentancur, (Ronald) Araujo himself, full-backs like (Nihitan) Nández with a lot of potential, and we create few scoring chances.
“If the coach is looking for a team that damages when attacking, but doesn't create scoring chances, the responsibility can't fall on the individuals, but rather on my failure to get the combination of such outstanding players to create the differences we struggle to create."
Nunez has failed to score in his last nine appearances for Uruguay. That followed a run of 10 goals in seven games for his country.