Emile Heskey shares what he really thinks of Darwin Nunez as a player at Liverpool

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Darwin Nunez is one of the Premier League’s most polarising players at the moment.

Some believe that Nunez is an effective striker who can cause problems for almost any defender in the league.

Meanwhile, Nunez has been criticised by others for his lack of composure in front of goal and his profligacy when in good situations.

Speaking on the Seaman Says Podcast, Emile Heskey has now shared his verdict on Nunez as a striker.

Heskey knows what it takes to be a Liverpool number nine, and, similarly to Nunez, Heskey was often derided for his inability to score goals.

Heskey says that he actually believes Nunez has what it takes to be a top striker at Liverpool, claiming that there’s a player in there, but he’s not necessarily a natural finisher.

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Emile Heskey shares Darwin Nunez verdict

Heskey spoke about Nunez, sharing how he believes Liverpool can get the best out of him.

Heskey reckons that Nunez is best as an impact player off the bench, claiming that he thinks that he still has plenty to offer as a player.

“I think for Darwin, I think he’s more of an impact from the bench, more than an actual starter,” Heskey said.

“I honestly believe that there is a player in there and I think the pressure that comes with being in, at a big club and pressure that comes with being in such a high-profile league as well, it can be tough for some players and I think he’s finding it tough in that sense. I don’t think he’s as composed a finisher that we’ve seen over the years.

“He’s not a natural finisher, is he?” The host asked,

“No, he isn’t. And then you’ve got Robbie Fowler, who you go back to Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler, then you got Michael, then you got Suarez, then you got Daniel Sturridge, and you keep moving and moving and then you look at some of the chances that he’s getting and he’s snatching at a lot of them. He’s finding it very tough and that’s, but again, he’s at a club that is fantastic for him because fans are not going to get on top of him because as long as you work hard, they will love you.”

Darwin Nunez record as a substitute

Heskey says that Nunez is better as an impact sub, but, interestingly, the stats do back that up.

Indeed, the Uruguayan does actually have a solid when coming off the bench.

Nunez has come on as a sub for Liverpool on 57 occasions, and while he has only scored eight goals off the bench, he’s averaging a goal every 158 minutes as a sub, not. abad return.

Nunez scores at a worse rate when he is starting, and that may be something that Arne Slot wants to keep in mind.

Nunez is in a difficult patch of form right now, so it would be hard to justify putting the South American into the Liverpool starting XI at this point, but Nunez is arguably at his best when he isn’t in the starting XI in any case.

Nunez could still have some big moments between now and the end of the season.