Liverpool should rue promoting “legend” who outscored Diaz & Nunez in 2024

Liverpool have been right here earlier than. Winter has handed, and the most important prizes lie tantalisingly forward.

Having overcome Tottenham Hotspur over two legs, Liverpool have reached the Carabao Cup last, which will probably be performed towards Newcastle United subsequent month.

Arne Slot’s aspect additionally received the Champions League group section and bypassed the pesky added knockout spherical, straight into the final 16.

But it surely’s the Premier League that Anfield covets most. In its trendy model, Liverpool have solely lifted the trophy as soon as, in 2020, and the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, two of the best gamers of their technology, are determined to consolidate their high quality with a second triumph.

You are feeling that had been both of those veterans, each out of contract this summer time, absent this season, Liverpool can be swimming deeper. Up entrance particularly, Liverpool’s frontline must be doing extra as a collective, with Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz’s performances elevating hypothesis about their future on the membership.

The way forward for Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez

Liverpool have one of the crucial harmful strike forces in Europe, however that is to not say that each participant is performing on the prime of their recreation.

Salah has absurdly clinched 27 objectives and 19 assists from 35 matches in all competitions, driving Liverpool to titles and, maybe, himself to Ballon d’Or gold.

On the left, Cody Gakpo can also be driving the crest of a prolific wave, however Diaz and Nunez are starting to frustrate, with their mixed purpose involvements in 2024/25 – 25 – a steep distance under Salah’s haul of 46 contributions.

It could be that FSG decides to money on this summer time, particularly since Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Nunez was near becoming a member of Saudi Professional League aspect Al Nassr in January earlier than they signed Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.

In the meantime, TEAMtalk revealed that whereas the Reds are eager to tie their Colombian left winger right down to a brand new contract, there was intrigue from the Saudi Professional League in the summertime, and Liverpool would entertain bids value £67m.

Theoretically, Liverpool might financial institution greater than £120m for his or her South American forwards this summer time, one thing that may very well be redirected towards, say, switch goal Alexander Isak.

Each Diaz, 28, and the 25-year-old Nunez are proficient gamers and contribute successfully to Slot’s venture, however provided that their goalscoring data depart lots to be desired, it would not be proper to say they’re indispensable.

Particularly when former Liverpool sensation Luis Suarez managed to outscore the pair of them in 2024.

Liverpool should rue dropping Luis Suarez

When Suarez was 24, he left Ajax and joined Liverpool in a deal value £23m. It was an thrilling switch, although dwarfed by the signing of Andy Carroll, who arrived concurrently in January 2011.

Registering 123 purpose contributions from 132 matches for the Merseysiders, it is truthful to say that Suarez is among the best forwards in Liverpool’s trendy historical past, virtually singlehandedly profitable the membership their first Premier League title in 2013/14.

Who might overlook that season? There are similarities between Salah’s unrelenting drive below Slot’s wing and Liverpool’s former omnipotent talisman, who plundered 31 objectives and 13 assists from 33 top-flight matches that 12 months however nonetheless got here up brief.

Sadly, Anfield was in a really totally different state again then, with Brendan Rodgers’ outfit missing the identical diploma of evenly unfold and high-class expertise.

He is been hailed as a “legend” of the sport by talent scout Jacek Kulig, having compelled his manner out of Liverpool after that agonising title miss, signing for Barcelona in a deal value £75m – a package deal that fell in need of solely Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale’s transfers to Actual Madrid on the time.

In fact, the skilled marksman can have no regrets, not least as a result of he went on to win the Champions League and 5 La Liga titles (one with Atletico Madrid) earlier than leaving Europe and journeying throughout the pond. The best testomony to Suarez’s ability set is that he wasn’t minnowed subsequent to Lionel Messi, scoring 195 objectives and offering 113 assists over 283 appearances.

Suarez now plies his commerce within the MLS with Inter Miami, alongside former Barcelona teammates Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, with the US campaigns usually beginning in February and operating till October.

He could also be within the twilight section of his storied profession, however the Uruguayan nonetheless managed to chalk up some spectacular numbers, scoring 25 objectives and including 12 assists throughout 37 matches in all competitions.

That haul of 37 purpose contributions is a distance greater than each Nunez (24) and Diaz (27) registered for Liverpool throughout the calendar 12 months 2024.

He is nonetheless received it, and although English soccer’s health calls for would signify an insurmountable hurdle for the ageing participant, it is pertinent to notice that he is nonetheless received it in entrance of purpose, one thing that each Diaz, who has been deployed as a makeshift quantity 9 this 12 months, and Nunez have struggled to provide persistently.

Certain, you’d in all probability be proper in supposing that the 38-year-old striker is previous his Premier League sell-by date, and wouldn’t be a helpful possibility in Slot’s high-energy Liverpool staff, however Suarez went on to realize greatness with Barcelona and will have grow to be a real Anfield legend had he stayed.

The failure to successfully exchange him solely added insult to harm, with Ricky Lambert and Mario Balotelli tasked with replicating his offensive menace. Redmen supporters (and FSG) should depend their fortunate stars that Klopp was the person who changed the beleaguered Rodgers on the helm.

Nevertheless, it is tough to think about a world the place Rodgers would have remained instated within the dugout for a few years previous his dismissal, even had Suarez been retained. Maybe we’d be taking a look at a world the place Klopp’s venture would have been fronted by the long-lasting centre-forward.

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Liverpool consider they’ve certainly one of Europe’s greatest abilities on this ahead.