Liverpool have had some top strikers come and go during the Premier League era.
Mohamed Salah has rewritten the record books since arriving at the club in 2017, surpassing just about every goal scoring landmark.
But Salah aside, the club’s history is full of players who were brilliant at putting the ball into the back of the net.
One of these was Fernando Torres. Despite leaving the club under a cloud and joining Chelsea in 2011, Torres remains a hero to many at Anfield. Fast, strong and lethal, the Spaniard was quite possibly the best striker in the world while at Liverpool.
In some respects, the Reds haven’t really had a player like Torres in their squad since he left 13 years ago. Luis Suarez was amazing, obviously, so too was Roberto Firmino, but neither were proper No.9’s like El Nino. Now though, former Liverpool man Rickie Lambert thinks Arne Slot could have the answer right under his nose.
Liverpool told to keep backing Darwin Nunez
Lambert himself was one of those to try and become Liverpool’s new Torres. In what feels a bit like a fever dream, the Scouser wore the No.9 for a season in 2014/15.
Although he was a serviceable Premier League striker, Lambert was never going to get near those kind of levels. He left just before Jurgen Klopp’s arrival after scoring three goals in 36 games.
Nevertheless, just as he always has been, Lambert remains a big Liverpool fan. And speaking to TalkSPORT about the man now wearing his old No.9 shirt – Darwin Nunez – the 42-year-old has urged the Reds to keep the faith.
“As a fellow striker I can see the potential in him,” says Lambert. “I love him the way he is. If he stays just the way he is I love him. But I can see him being as impactful as Fernando Torres. We’ve got to stick with him.
“The next manager’s got to get him on the training pitch, repetition on those shots, on every angle, left foot, right foot and within a few months, a year, those chances will start going in. His all round game is already there. He can hold it up and he can get in behind. You know Gabby [Agbonlahor, host], a player at the top level who can do that, you can’t let them go.
“If we let him go, without a doubt he is going to turn into a world class player somewhere else.”
Darwin Nunez has to improve
Nunez has been the subject of much debate during the final weeks of the season. The 24-year-old just hasn’t been good enough.
Nevertheless, the direction of travel seems to be that Liverpool will not sell Nunez this summer.
Having invested so much in the player, the Reds will reportedly keep hold of him. There have even been claims that Slot is keen to make him a crucial part of the team.
For that to happen though, Nunez must do better. Lambert may see a potentially world class player, but fellow former Red Steve McManaman has offered a more realistic verdict on Nunez.
Of course, the Uruguay international has plenty of potential. But there does come a point where that ceiling can no longer be reached. If he does indeed stay at the club, next year is a huge one for Darwin.