Steve McManaman insists Liverpool knew they weren't signing a finished article in Darwin Nunez - but the striker will become 'better and better and better' with each game.
Nunez produced another all-action display during Liverpool's 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Tuesday evening, his endless running in behind causing endless problems for a high Villa line. The Uruguayan's work-rate was on show when he refused to give up on a heavy touch that took him right to the byline, his shot on goal eventually rebounding for Stefan Bajcetic to stroke home his first senior goal.
Yet the 23-year-old left much still to be desired when it came to the final finish. Nunez's six shots was by some way the most of any player at Villa Park, and his failure to find the net with several good chances once again raised questions. But McManaman believes Liverpool knew they were signing a rough diamond in the summer - a diamond that will shine brighter with each game.
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"It’s not just minutes and goals, I saw him a lot at Benfica he’s playing men’s football, big boy football for three years so he’s learning every time he plays," McManaman told Prime Video. "Liverpool aren’t buying the finished article, they’re trying to make him into it. The five-year contract Liverpool fans will see he looks a bit raw, he will score, cause problems, he will miss chances but there’s no problem about that - he’s going to get better and better and better as he learns with these players."
The former Liverpool midfielder went on to add: "He came in as a 22-year-old, that in itself says a lot. He came from Benfica, he only had what? Second season which he excelled in, so you can’t expect him to be this superstar product.
"He excelled in the Champions League which is why Liverpool have gone ‘we better try take him now, if we don’t other teams will go for him’ and I think Liverpool signed on a long-term contract. Let Sadio Mane go, he’s not a better player than Sadio Mane but he was coming to the end of his career and was more the finished article.
"This guy we’ve seen, we keep repeating the same words: he’s raw, tough, aggressive, he offers you something different to Firmino and Salah. He just wants to run that way [forward] and cause chaos."
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