Liverpool star Darwin Nunez is causing Jurgen Klopp headaches with his fiery temper. The clash between Nunez and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola last year is still fresh in the memory as the two teams prepare to clash again. Nunez, known for his impulsiveness, has already accumulated one red card and 15 yellow cards in 112 appearances for Liverpool. Despite his hefty price tag of £85 million, making him the club’s most expensive transfer from Benfica in 2022, Nunez is struggling to live up to expectations at Anfield.
The payment structure for Nunez’s transfer reveals that Liverpool have already paid £12.8 million of the total fee. This includes a payment of £4.3 million when he made 10 appearances and a further payment of £8.5 million when he reached 60 appearances, coinciding with the infamous incident involving Guardiola. The remaining £8.5 million will depend on Liverpool’s success in the Premier League or Champions League and Nunez’s performance on the pitch.
Unfortunately for Nunez, his goalscoring record this season leaves a lot to be desired. With just three goals in 15 appearances, eight of them as a starter, it is clear why he has failed to secure a regular place in Klopp’s starting XI. To make matters worse, he was booked as many times as he found the back of the net for Liverpool.
As Liverpool prepare to face Manchester City once again in a highly anticipated title clash, Arne Slot must weigh the risks of starting an unpredictable and volatile player like Nunez. Although Nunez brings speed, size and power to their offensive line, opponents often target him to provoke a reaction.
It was almost a year ago when Nunez had a clash with Guardiola, and the tensions between the two are still palpable. This time, however, Liverpool go into the game as clear favourites, sitting eight points clear of City in the league table with 10 wins from 12 games and just one defeat so far this season. The question remains whether starting with a flaming Nunez is worth the potential risks it poses.
In last year’s game, Klopp had to separate Nunez and Guardiola after they exchanged words in their native Spanish. Although both coaches downplayed the incident and insisted it was just emotion that got the better of them, it’s clear there are still unresolved tensions between them.
Guardiola’s side are currently going through a rare slump, having lost five consecutive games for the first time in his coaching career. They are coming off a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Tottenham. On the other hand, Liverpool do not necessarily need to win this match but must avoid giving City any hope of a comeback. The Reds have already invested heavily in Nunez, and losing the title at this point would be catastrophic.
Klopp commented on Nunez’s clash with Guardiola, saying he loves both individuals but had to intervene to separate them. Guardiola brushed off the incident, saying nothing happened and joked that Nunez is stronger than him.
Heading into Sunday’s clash between Liverpool and Manchester City, all eyes will be on Klopp’s decision to take a risk on Nunez’s volatile temperament or opt for a more stable starting line-up. One thing is certain: this match promises to be an intense battle between two top teams seeking supremacy in English football.
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