Arsenal vs Liverpool: Why evolving Darwin Nunez could be the Reds’ difference-maker at the Emirates

 

Darwin Nunez was the match winner against RB Leipzig as Liverpool extended their perfect start in the Champions League.  

 

The 25-year-old reacted quickest to prod home Mohamed Salah's headed effort from close range just moments after the Bundesliga side had a goal ruled out for offside.  

 

It capped off a good few days for the former Benfica man.  

 

 

Darwin replaced Diogo Jota last Sunday against Chelsea with just 30 minutes on the clock. Tosin Adarabioyo landed on the Portuguese forward after a tussle between the two players. Jota played on but couldn't see out the first half.  

 

Arne Slot turned to the ex-Benfica man. It wasn't necessarily a shock, but it also wouldn't have been much of a shock had the Dutch tactician moved Cody Gakpo into a central area and brought on Luis Diaz.  

 

He hasn't exactly been sparing with his use of Darwin this season. The former Feyenoord boss has replaced chaos with calm. This has limited the No.9’s opportunities but the team have benefitted.  

 

The Reds have won seven of eight Premier League matches. They've kept five clean sheets and have conceded just three goals.  

 

Liverpool's early success this season isn't tied to the absence of their No.9. Yes, Jota has been impactful leading the line for Slot's side but the real difference is the Dutchman’s preference for functionality over fun.  

 

He seeks control, and Jota as the centre forward, to an extent, gives him that. What I mean by that is that the former Wolves winger is reliable. He's predictable. That isn't always a positive though.  

 

You just know what you're going to get from him, good and bad. Whereas with Darwin, it's always a little different. Sometimes he is completely unplayable. Other times, it's as though he's never played football before.  

 

Jota started the season well but his performances have been on the wane over recent weeks.  

 

He chipped in with an assist against Wolves but had the fewest number of touches of any outfield player to play the full 90. He scored the winner against Crystal Palace but lost the most duels (11), completed just 64% of his passes on the day and missed two big chances.  

 

Before being replaced after 30 minutes against Chelsea with an injury, Jota had attempted just two passes. He'd also won just one of his three duels. Had he stayed on, he likely would've been involved in a goal. It always happens. You have people calling for him to be subbed and then he pops up with a key moment.  

 

There was no time for Darwin to feel his way into the match. Liverpool's game plan was built on frustrating Chelsea and dominating the space. They couldn't carry a player who wasn't playing their part. All eyes were on the centre-forward.  

 

 

To say he was brilliant would be an understatement.  

 

There was that pass to Gakpo that Alexis Mac Allister would’ve been proud of. At one point, it appeared as though he’d dawdled in possession but then he threaded a pass into Curtis Jones in the build-up to the second penalty decision. Again, it was perfectly weighted and well executed.  

 

In possession, he wasn’t heavily involved. He attempted just eight passes at Anfield on Sunday afternoon and had a total of 20 touches. Without the ball though, he was a demon.  

 

He won the most duels (9) of any player and he involved himself in 17 duels in total. He won 100% of his tackles (3 from 3), made two clearances and recovered the ball on eight occasions. Darwin was also the most fouled player (4). He was unbelievable.  

 

The former Benfica man put in an all-action performance but it was for all of the right reasons. He was a handful but not in the traditional sense. He wasn’t peppering the Chelsea goal, he was playing his part in the hosts frustrating the visitors. He was a menace and a constant nuisance. 

 

He was the difference-maker against Chelsea and the match-winner against RB Leipzig.  

 

Liverpool will be hoping he can be both against Arsenal.  

 

The Gunners lost their last outing in the Premier League with Bournemouth recording a 2-0 win. Mikel Arteta is definitely without William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori. Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka could be missing too, though the pair are with the matchday squad, while skipper Martin Odegaard will likely be absent.  

 

 

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With Arsenal depleted, Darwin could find himself up against a makeshift defence with a centre-back pairing of Gabriel and Ben White. And in the form he's in, he could be quite problematic for the hosts. The Uruguay forward has already scored at the Emirates. We may only be eight games into the season but Arteta and his players can't really afford to drop any more points at this stage. They're already four points behind. They could be seven points off the pace with a loss this weekend.  

 

It isn't win or bust but they can't just sit back and look to frustrate on Sunday. The pressure is on them. The space this leaves could be the perfect storm for Darwin and Liverpool.

Arsenal vs Liverpool: Why evolving Darwin Nunez could be the Reds’ difference-maker at the Emirates