Time To Let Darwin Loose on Everton’s Deep Block

This weekend sees the first Merseyside derby of the season, as Everton make the short trip across Stanley Park to face Liverpool at Anfield. The international games are now complete, with LFC players on their way home or already back in the UK, where an eager Jürgen Klopp will be waiting to unveil his tactical plan for gameweek nine of the 2023/24 Premier League season. The circumstances surrounding the Reds’ last two games (against Spurs & Brighton) have left a few question marks over what team selection the German may opt for; however, I would readily look at what has occurred during this international week to establish the starting striker within his master plan.

Darwin Núñez’s International Triumph

For the first time in 22 years, Uruguay defeated Brazil in this week’s round of international matches. The amazing South American encounter and subsequent result were due in large part to the incredible assist and fine goal by Darwin Núñez, as he delivered a standout performance. Despite both Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani stepping away from the international limelight, their historic and emphatic contributions appear to have been handed down to a special and dominating young pretender, one who is now starting to make his mark for Liverpool Football Club. After gifting the No. 9 shirt to the former Benfica forward in the summer, it appeared to show intent by his manager, to inject as much faith into the 6ft 2inch striker as possible. With limitless potential to his game, the Reds’ system of play has slowly been altered to add creation around the rampaging centre-forward, which can enable him to overpower and exploit opposition defences.

⚽️ 1 goal
🎯 1 assist
😮 A first win for Uruguay over Brazil in 22 years

It was quite a night for Darwin last night 🔥 🇺🇾 pic.twitter.com/59p7hMObc4

— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) October 18, 2023

The Rise of Darwin Núñez at Liverpool

Despite starting the season as one of the Anfield substitutes, a series of electrifying attacking moments and tremendous link-up play seems to have pushed Darwin to the front of the striking queue. With every game and period of training with one another, the new-look squad is looking more adjusted to what is expected. In Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai, there is now a new and exciting group of attacking midfielders who can link with and help extract the venomous best of their leading man. As Mohamed Salah slowly morphs into the team’s primary creator from wide, it is surely only a matter of time before he, Núñez, and Luis Díaz, find the unstoppable combinations that the previous fabled three once had.

Darwin Nunez has 11 G/A in 9 starts for club & country so far this season…🫡🇺🇾 pic.twitter.com/qHSdWsLzIF

— The Anfield Talk (@TheAnfieldTalk) October 18, 2023

Is Everton the Perfect Moment for Darwin Núñez to Explode…?

The Everton manager, Sean Dyche, will be fielding a dogmatic and deep-lying group of defenders and midfielders, to frustrate and undermine the Reds’ tantalizing patterns of play. Predictability in Liverpool’s play created the need for fresh young blood, which is why this very game should be used to unleash every inch of Liverpool’s arsenal. In James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, the Toffees have dependable players within their backline defence, yet are still somewhat vulnerable against certain forces. The movements of Liverpool’s front three and Darwin’s unpredictable burst of pace should be used as the forefront of the home team’s attacking threat. To unsettle and introduce more dynamism into the final third is what this group must achieve, as recycling of possession 40 yards from goal will only play directly into the visitors’ hands. Ideally, I would love to see both Gravenberch and Szoboszlai play closer to their No. 9 on Saturday, as Alexis Mac Allister and his right-back partner, Trent Alexander-Arnold, control the centre of the park. The tip of the Liverpool spear is someone that enabled brilliance for Uruguay this past week; therefore, I hope his club manager and teammates will look to do what is needed against their local enemies, and allow their Raging Bull to be unleashed upon a defence that may not have the tools to handle him.