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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

UEFA highlight impressive Darwin Nunez trait only Kylian Mbappe can better

Darwin Nunez was the second fastest player in the Champions League last season, with only Kylian Mbappe clocking a quicker speed.

UEFA have released their technical report for last term's tournament and it contains plenty of facts and figures, with Nunez impressing at his former side Benfica.

Liverpool's new £85million signing was outstanding last term, scoring 34 goals in all competitions.

The Uruguay international, 23, is under pressure to perform at Liverpool this season following his big-money transfer. He was sent off for violent conduct on his Anfield debut earlier this month after clashing heads with Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen.

Jurgen Klopp's side have experienced a poor start to the season, picking up just two points from their opening three Premier League fixtures against Fulham, Palace and Manchester United. Nunez still has two matches of his three-game ban to go before he returns.

Yet Liverpool fans will be confident he can deliver on Merseyside after reading UEFA's latest report. It claims that Mbappe clocked the fastest speed in the Champions League last season, reaching a remarkable 36.7 kilometres per hour (22.8 miles per hour).

Yet Nunez was only marginally slower than Mbappe, reaching a top speed of 36.5 kilometers per hour (22.68 miles per hour). He was quicker than his former teammate Rafa Silva (36.4 km/h), Alphonso Davies (36.3 km/h) and Federico Valverde (36.2 km/h).

Darwin Nunez has already shown his blistering pace in the Premier League (Getty Images)

Do you think Darwin Nunez will be a success at Liverpool? Let us know in the comments below!

That means Nunez was also quicker than his new Liverpool colleagues, such as the Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. And he was faster than his predecessor Sadio Mane, who joined Bayern Munich earlier this summer - ending his six-year spell at Anfield.

Nunez has already broken that rapid Champions League speed at Liverpool, reaching 36.53 kilometers per hour (22.69 miles per hour) at Craven Cottage on the opening day of the season. The Uruguayan was brilliant in the 2-2 draw, scoring and providing an assist.

Klopp told Nunez to control his emotions after his red card against Palace. "There was provocation but it was definitely the wrong reaction," he said. "He will learn from that. Unfortunately he has now three games to do that. It is not cool for us but it is how it is.

"Of course I will speak with him. I came in and wanted to see the situation [on television]. In the game I could not see anything so I could know what happened. I saw Andersen on the floor and Darwin walking away. That was my picture.

"Then I saw it – yes it is a red card. Wrong reaction in the situation. Andersen wanted that, he got it but he made a mistake. Of course I will talk about it with Darwin but not yet."

Nunez has apologised to Liverpool fans for his dismissal. "I am aware of the ugly attitude I had," he tweeted. "I'm here to learn from my mistakes and it won't happen again... apologies to Liverpool all, I'll be back."

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