Darwin Nunez will be an ‘absolute darling at Anfield’, IAN LADYMAN tells Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Coming Up’… as CHRIS SUTTON backs the striker to score 20 goals and help Liverpool challenge Man City this season

• Darwin Nunez has scored four goals in his opening eight games of the season 
• The Liverpool striker had been scrutinised during his debut season for the club 
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Darwin Nunez has been backed to become a superstar at Liverpool this season by Ian Ladyman, after the forward’s performances had been scruntised in his debut year at the club.

Nunez has scored four goals in eight games this season, with his latest effort putting the Reds ahead in their 3-1 win over West Ham.

The 24-year-old also came off the bench to score twice for 10-man Liverpool to turn around their 1-0 deficit to Newcastle into a memorable 2-1 victory.

Speaking on Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Coming Up’ podcast, Ladyman said Nunez had shown signs of his quality during his first season at the club despite facing criticism.  

‘I am a huge fan of Nunez,’ said Mail Sport’s Football Editor. ‘I thought last season when he was getting a lot of criticism for missing chances that he would be a superstar this season because he’s always in those positions.

Ian Ladyman, left, believes Darwin Nunez has the ability to become a superstar at Liverpool

Nunez has enjoyed a strong start to the season after a mixed debut campaign in England

The 24-year-old scored his fourth goal in eight games in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over West Ham 

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‘He’s quick, he’s physical and I do think he will be an absolute darling at Anfield over time.’

Chris Sutton agreed that Nunez had been unfairly criticised last season, with the £85m summer signing faced with a ‘ridiculous’ comparison to Man City’s Erling Haaland.

Haaland scored a staggering 52 goals in 53 matches during his debut season at Man City, while Nunez managed 15 in 42 games for Liverpool.

Sutton suggested that Nunez offers a massive threat and can help Liverpool emerge as the closest challengers to Man City this season, with the Reds boasting Mo Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz among their attacking options.

‘They had that game in the Community Shield where Nunez scored and Haaland didn’t, then there was this head-to-head,’ Sutton said. I think Nunez took a fair bit of flak during the season because of that comparison.

‘He is clearly his own man and is a massive threat. 

‘You mention the other forwards that Liverpool have and that’s why in my opinion they are the biggest challengers to Manchester City. 

‘They have a brilliant array of different types of attackers.’

Chris Sutton believes Nunez suffered from being compared to Erling Haaland last season

Sutton suggested Liverpool’s attacking depth makes them Man City’s likeliest challengers

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has claimed Nunez has made ‘massive steps’ in recent weeks

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had singled Nunez out for praise following their win over West Ham last week.

Klopp said Nunez had made ‘massive steps’ in recent weeks, with the Uruguayan’s defence work highlighted as the reason for his increased role in the first team.

He had defended Nunez during his first season at the club, where he compared the forward’s initial struggles to Robert Lewandowski before he emerged as a star during his second season at Dortmund.

Ladyman backed Nunez to continue his good form for Liverpool when Klopp’s side visit Tottenham on Saturday in a meeting between two unbeaten sides in the Premier League. 

‘Nunez goals in last season perhaps didn’t match up to his XG (expected goals), the positions he got into the chances he had people saying he should have scored more,’ Ladyman said.

‘But I thought I thought it would come. 

‘They play Tottenham this weekend, I think he will score in that game. I know that’s quite a bold thing to say, but having been watching him play a little bit, I think he will score.

‘He’s been influential, he scored again at the weekend when Liverpool beat West Ham, but he also missed a good chance.’

Sutton highlighted his former Celtic team-mate Henrik Larsson as an example for Nunez of the strong mentality required to brush off missed chances

Nunez has been backed by Sutton to comfortably score 20 goals for Liverpool this season

Sutton responded by highlighting the importance of having a strong mentality as a forward after missing chances, offering praise for Nunez for continuing to occupy goalscoring positions.

The former Blackburn and Celtic forward then offered his backing for Nunez to score 20 goals comfortably this season. 

‘Of course it matters if you miss chances, especially big chances, but he is one of those players where he does seem to dust it off and get on with it. You have to have that strong mentality. 

‘I always felt players I played with, like Henrik Larsson and Alan Shearer, they used to miss some horrific chances at times, not many mind, but they had the confidence and mindset to keep getting in those positions.

‘I think at times in my career I did hesitate a bit. 

‘That is why they were at the highest level and absolutely fearless. Maybe it is something Nunez is suffering from a little bit, but the fact we still talk about him missing opportunities shows he is still getting in the right positions. 

‘He got 15 goals last season in all competitions, I think he will get 20 this season comfortably.’

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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