Uruguayan media disagree on Darwin Nunez and it perfectly sums up Liverpool man

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is almost impossible to analyze. Last season, he scored 18 times and laid on a teammate for a goal on another 13 occasions. He got more than 30 goal contributions in all, and yet ended the campaign as a frustrating figure.

While he found the back of the net more frequently than any other Liverpool player aside from Mohamed Salah, Nunez should have reached 30 goals scored last season with the chances that he passed up. The now-25-year-old missed more big chances than he converted and, even though he got into the right positions, there was too often a lack of a clinical touch.

All of that was summed up neatly during his performance for Uruguay against Panama as the South American side opened its Copa America campaign. Nunez scored, but missed a few opportunities to have made the game safe long before the 85th minute when he volleyed home. As is often the case, he scored with the hardest of the chances that came his way.

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That was reflected in the ratings given to him in the Uruguayan media. El Observador waxed lyrical about his display, praising his goal and handing Nunez an eight out of 10 rating.

"He assumed the role of leader of the attack," was the verdict from that particular outlet. It added: "The intensity that Nunez brought to each of his interventions in attack — and what Vina played — marked the two highest points for Uruguay in the first half."

But fellow publication FutbolUy had a different view. "He scored the goal that closed the game and gave Uruguay peace of mind," it said. "But on a general level, he did not complete a good performance.

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"He lost confidence as the minutes passed and wasted several very clear goal situations. He is ineffective and insecure in making decisions. He left the [attacking] area a lot to make contact with the ball."

And that pretty much sums up Nunez's time with Liverpool. How do you rate a player who does score more often than most give him credit for, but at the same time, still nowhere near enough to justify his hefty price tag and the chances he misses? On this occasion, it was fine as Nunez scored and Uruguay won — but had Panama stolen a point, he would have been criticized.

It is a conundrum that Arne Slot will have to get his head around quickly at Anfield. Unless there is an uptick in the quality of Nunez's finishing relatively soon, he will continue to be a frustrating and divisive figure heading into his peak years. All the while, though, the feeling that he could be about to explode is unlikely to disappear.