Darwin Nunez goal celebration speaks volumes after ending miserable Liverpool run
Darwin Nunez scored Liverpool's third goal against Bournemouth on Saturday, following on from two Luis Diaz strikes in the first half of the Premier League clash
by Nathan Ridley · The MirrorDarwin Nunez looked to the sky in relief as he celebrated scoring his first goal for Liverpool in nearly six months.
Nunez, 25, ruthlessly netted the Reds' third goal at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, ultimately the icing on the cake in a 3-0 win. The Uruguayan repaid manager Arne Slot for giving him his first start of the Premier League campaign, having failed to score in any of his previous substitute four appearances.
Those fruitless cameos meant that Nunez went into Saturday's fixture without a goal in his last 14 games for Liverpool, stretching back to April. But after Luis Diaz scored twice to put the Reds 2-0 up at Anfield, Nunez was able to get in on the act and end his miserable goal drought.
The Liverpool striker smartly shifted the ball onto his left foot on the corner of the penalty area before playing a neat one-two with Mohamed Salah. Nunez collected the ball in his stride and curled his shot around Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Wheeling away in celebration, the 25-year-old had a beaming smile on his face, with his arms outstretched and his head looking up to the sky. Diaz then jumped on his back before Nunez grabbed the corner flag and rested his head on it, another sign of relief.
Slot's men were cruising and went into the half-time break three goals to the good. It wasn't a convincing start from the Reds, however, as Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo hit the back of the net with just four minutes on the clock. But after a lengthy VAR check, the away side's lead was wiped off.
Diaz rubbed salt in Bournemouth's wounds with a quick-fire brace before Nunez bagged his long-awaited goal, allowing Liverpool to enjoy a comfortable second half. The Uruguay international was criticised for his performance as a substitute when the Reds lost 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest last Saturday, but Slot believes that it's unfair to judge Nunez until he's had a run of starts.
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"It's always difficult because players, but also the media, only think you have confidence in a player if you play him," the Liverpool boss explained. "We have confidence in all of them, otherwise you don't bring a player in if you're 3-1 up half-an-hour before the end or last week against Nottingham Forest, he came on half-an-hour before the end.
"There's a lot of confidence in him. But there are two players for that position and I could even come up with more, who could play in that position. He’s in competition with Diogo [Jota], who's done really well. But many games have to be played and there will be enough time to judge Darwin, if he improves and how he improves and if he can do special things for the club."
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