Darwin Nunez thriving in ‘Jurgen Klopp’s new system’, says Alan Shearer

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Alan Shearer feels Darwin Nunez is ‘adapting brilliantly’ to the new system at Liverpool. The striker scored twice this weekend.

Darwin Nunez grabbed some headlines on Saturday with a brace against Southampton. The Uruguayan proved decisive in Liverpool’s 3-1 win, then, as he scored two wonderful poacher’s goals.

The watching Alan Shearer was impressed. He named Nunez in his Premier League Team of the Week, applauding the player for how well he’s playing in the current tactics at the club.

“[He] crowned an impressive display with a first-half brace,” said Shearer. “He is adapting brilliantly to [Jurgen] Klopp’s new system.”

Alan Shearer applauds Darwin Nunez

Nunez is certainly clicking with the team right now – and that’s something that should only improve going forward. He’s getting better with every single game.

As for the ‘new system’. It’s a subtle change. Klopp toyed with a diamond formation for a couple of games but then moved back to a 4-3-3 formation that sees Mohamed Salah and Nunez in the wide positions.

In truth, though, it’s just a diamond with slightly wider starting positions for the strikers. Firmino plays the centre-forward role as a False 9 anyway, so there’s little change for him.

This is the system Liverpool have always played under Klopp. Now we’ve just got Nunez playing where Sadio Mané was – and operating in a slightly different way. While Mané wanted to drift between the lines or run with the ball at his feet, Nunez is constantly looking to get in behind. At all times.

And it works. Nunez is essentially impossible to mark when he’s starting out wide. Full-backs aren’t big enough to play up against him – or at least, very few are – and that allows him to easily find space in the channels. No centre-back is quick enough to get near him once he’s got that running start on them, either. Literally none of them.

The big question is now about the future. Luis Díaz will be back after the World Cup, as will Diogo Jota. Will Nunez remain on the flank once they’re back? You’d assume not, but we’re also not sure it’s right to change things.

Klopp has a big decision on his hands, in other words. Fortunately, there’s a lot of time to think on it.