‘NCLEVUER TO SHAKE PREM
DARWIN NUNEZ is ready to hit the ground running in the Premier League, says Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson.
The Uruguay international was drafted in from Benfica earlier this summer after Jurgen Klopp sanctioned a £64million deal for the powerful forward.
Nunez, 23, has arrived at Anfield off the back of a prolific season in Portugal – he bagged 34 goals in 41 games all told for Benfica.
And Lawrenson believes that there is no reason why Nunez cannot carry that momentum into the new campaign and put Liverpool on the front foot.
“I saw both the Liverpool fixtures against Benfica in the Champions League and, in all honesty, he tore us apart,” said the former defender.
“He’s lightning-quick and can play anywhere across the front three.
“He’s a top signing and, when you look at it, he’s a striker who works extremely hard – and that’s the prerequisite for any Liverpool player, let alone forwards.
“It’s a very clever signing for the club – and he’s young as well.
“They’re obviously hoping that Nunez will have the same impact as
Luis Diaz, and there’s a lot of excitement about the fact that he’s only going to get better.”
With Nunez drafted in, Klopp opted to offload Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich. The Senegal star, who had been an integral player for Liverpool in recent years, moved to the Allianz Arena in a £35m deal.
Lawrenson says that, while Klopp has been forced to wheel and deal, Manchester City chief
Pep Guardiola gets more financial flexibility to shape his squad.
The 65-year-old Reds hero, a five-time top-flight winner with Liverpool himself, believes the gulf in spending power between the clubs will always make City title favourites.
“Liverpool are shopping in a different market,” Lawrenson added. “They have to balance the books, which it looks like they’re going to do by selling players.
“So, City are the favourites, though they know that if they lack anything or lose form along the way, Liverpool will be waiting.
“But before the first game of the season, before the first ball is even kicked, everybody will be tipping City to win it – unless you’re a massive Red!”