Alan Shearer explains how Darwin Nunez can improve after spotting ‘glaring’ issue with Liverpool star

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Liverpool’s players have come in for plenty of praise this season after a flying start to the campaign.

The Reds have won 14 out of 16 matches under Arne Slot and sit top of both the Premier League and Champions League.

Many in the Liverpool squad have been much improved under Slot so far and it appears that the Reds could have a real shot at winning a major trophy this term.

To do that, the Liverpool players are going to have to keep their level up. There’s always little room for error in a battle against Man City.

One player who has struggled to fully get into that stride has been Darwin Nunez.

After starting the season on the bench, Nunez has been finding himself in the team much more regularly courtesy of an injury to Diogo Jota. But according to Premier League legend Alan Shearer, the Uruguayan needs to step things up.

Alan Shearer calls for Darwin Nunez improvement

It has been a funny season on top of a slightly strange Liverpool career for Nunez.

There have been many times since he arrived at Anfield in which the 25-year-old has looked every inch a £64m player.

However, for much of it he has fallen short in the goal-scoring department. His finishing has been erratic and costly.

So, answering questions for The Athletic, Premier League all-time top scorer Shearer was asked how Nunez can ‘go up a level’.

READ MORE: Arne Slot reveals what he thinks about Darwin Nunez’s recent form for Liverpool

“The one obvious, glaring thing: his finishing should be a lot better,” said the pundit.

“He gets into so many good positions, his running ability is excellent, but when he has time to think, it doesn’t quite work for him. When it’s instant and instinctive, it does.

“He scored two great goals late on against Newcastle last season, so it’s in there, but it isn’t reliable or consistent.”

What advice does Shearer have for Nunez?

As one of the most lethal finishers football has ever seen, Shearer is worth listening to on all matters relating to putting the ball in the net.

So, Nunez would be wise to take on board the 54-year-old’s advice for getting better in front of goal.

“There’s only one way to change that, and that’s practice, practice and practice,” says Shearer. “I would have him doing every finishing drill going every day so it becomes natural. I did it.

“As a kid, the best bit of advice I was given was from Jack Hixon, the scout who discovered me. There would always be better players than me, and he said: “So make sure you work harder than any of them.””

Hard work has never been Nunez’s problem, but if he can just get this last little bit of his game right, then he and Liverpool will be so much better for it.