Pundit shares who he thinks is the better player - Man City's Jack Grealish or Liverpool's Darwin Nunez

By Milo Clay

Optus Sport pundit Michael Bridges has now shared who he thinks is the better player out of Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez and Manchester City star Jack Grealish. 

Nunez hasn’t quite managed to find his finishing touch since making the switch to Anfield from Benfica over the summer. 

The 23-year-old has often been wasteful in front of goal but his work-rate and impact on games has been undeniable. 

The forward has managed nine goals and three assists in his first 22 appearances for Liverpool, which is a decent return considering Jurgen Klopp’s side haven’t been at their best this season. 

Grealish has struggled to adapt to Pep Guardiola’s style of play so far and while he’s put in some improved displays this season, he’s yet to recapture the form he produced at Villa Park. 

Despite this, former Leeds United striker Bridges says he would take the Englishman over Nunez and Manchester United winger Antony. 

Bridges on Grealish and Nunez 

Bridges discussed whether the criticism of Nunez has been fair considering both Grealish and Antony moved to the Manchester clubs for a bigger transfer fee. 

“The best return (of the three) and he hasn’t actually been amazing has got to be Grealish because he has lifted the Premier League title… he’s a player I really admire,” Bridges said on Optus Sport’s GegenPod podcast.

“He has had to adapt to a totally new philosophy under Pep (Guardiola) that’s what I do expect because at Aston Villa he had a free role – he was exciting, he was everywhere.

“I think he has learned the defensive roles and what it means to be a team player rather than just being that standout man.

“Sometimes you see him high and wide and I don’t like when I see him there. I like it when he drifts inside.

“With Nunez, I’m still going to back him because he is getting a lot of opportunities, but I got to say the right foot shot the other night against Brentford when he dragged it across goal… was so frustrating.

“He’s got the pace, he makes the dynamic runs, he’s a hard worker, but I am questioning his finishing ability on that right side.I think once he gets one, he’s going to get a handful.

“Antony is a showboater, I think when he gets a No. 9 he can bounce passes off, we’ll see the best of him, but I’m taking Jack Grealish out of the three of them so far.”

TBR View: Grealish isn’t suited to City’s style of play 

Nunez has only been at Liverpool for a few months but on an individual basis, he’s arguably made a bigger impact than Grealish already. 

Of course, the Englishman lifted the Premier League title last season but he’s only managed four goals and five assists for City in the league since he joined. 

Nunez makes brilliant runs in behind opposition defences and often finds himself in threatening positions, but he is lacking composure in the final third right now. 

The Uruguayan is far from the finished article and will undoubtedly improve under Klopp. Whereas Grealish has shown no real signs of improving his game under Guardiola. 

Grealish was at his best when had the freedom to express himself at Villa and he doesn’t seem to be well suited to playing in a Guardiola side.