‘He could be a Haaland or a Kane’

Updated 08/03/2024 at 00:33 GMT

TNT Sports’ Michael Owen believes Darwin Nunez could one day post similar goalscoring numbers to Erling Haaland or Harry Kane, but says the Uruguayan still has gaps in his game that should have been ironed out much earlier in his development. Nunez scored twice in Liverpool’s 5-1 thrashing of Sparta Prague in the UEFA Europa League to take his tally for the season to 16.Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between AC Sparta Praha and Liverpool FC at Letna Stadium on March 07, 2024 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Image credit: Getty Images

Darwin Nunez is capable of matching the goalscoring numbers of Erling Haaland or Harry Kane, according to TNT Sports pundit Michael Owen – if the Uruguayan can get his game “in the right order.”

Nunez scored twice in Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Sparta Prague in the two sides’ UEFA Europa League last-16 first leg on Thursday to take his tally for the season to 16 despite continuing to be up and down in front of goal.

“Nothing’s changed. He’s always been a player that does the sublime and the ridiculous,” Owen told TNT Sports’ Europa League highlights show.

“He doesn’t quite go to script but he’s an incredible player. I’ve watched him for a while, as soon as he came I thought this player has got attributes that you can’t teach but he’s also got gaps in his game that you would think you would learn by the time you are 12 or 14.”

Manchester City’s Haaland has hit 29 goals this season despite an injury-disrupted campaign, while Kane has 33 goals in the same number of appearances for Bayern Munich.

But Owen sees the raw talent in Nunez, even if he admitted to being frustrated by the Uruguayan’s inconsistency.

“I think it’s a massive challenge for the coaching staff at Liverpool, that will obviously change in the summer, because I think you can coach a lot into him and make him an even better player,” added Owen.

“You’d have egg on your face if you try to predict anything with him. He could be anything. He could be a Haaland or a Kane in terms of the numbers if he gets his game in the right order.

“At the moment he’s still a frustration at certain times but you can’t be without him. He does so many good things that you have to keep playing him and take the rough with the smooth.”

Nunez was clinical in the Czech capital on his 50th Liverpool start to help The Reds take a massive step towards the last eight.

In total, the 24-year-old now has 29 goals in 80 appearances since joining from Benfica in 2022 for a fee that could rise to 100 million euros.

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