A goal on his debut. Then a booking on his debut. A goal and an assist on his first Premier League appearance. A straight red card on his Anfield bow. Nobody would easily persuade Darwin Nunez that he landed in English football incognito or entirely smoothly.
On Wednesday evening, as Darwin lined up in a Liverpool starting XI for the eighth time since he signed for the club in a deal that could make him the most expensive footballer ever to join them, supporters of visiting West Ham jeered the Uruguayan in terms that may have needed interpreting for him to understand them.
He has not yet mastered English and might not, being only 23 and fresh to the folklore of the Premier League, have fully appreciated the nuance of away fans chants comparing him unfavourably to Andy Carroll, a former target man for both Liverpool and West Ham with a reputation for inconsistency, among other characteristics.
Darwin promptly scored an excellent target-man goal, a header from a cross, to settle the destiny of all three points, earn Liverpool a second successive 1-0 victory and give their manager Jurgen Klopp plenty to smile about as he plans for Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest, the team with the poorest goal-difference in the division. “He has arrived, 100 per cent,” declared Klopp of Darwin, as the player prefers to be known, referenced by his first name, like you would address a friend.
The striker, noted Klopp, is now gathering due admiration and allies with statistics to back him up. His three-match suspension, following the bad-tempered lash-out at Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen after he had barely started his Liverpool career, is behind him. The misses in front of goal are being balanced with hits and some real momentum.
His goal against West Ham was “important,” said the Liverpool manager, “he has now scored a couple of times in the last few games. The numbers are fine.” They read: three goals in three starts, across competitions, and, importantly, a first goal at Anfield, where every Liverpool centre-forward needs the crowd to be a friend. He followed up his impactful aggression coming off the bench against Manchester City on Sunday with a portfolio of efforts against West Ham that advertised not only his range of skills but his complicity with teammates.
There was a cleanly struck volley, well saved by Lukasz Fabianski, to do justice to a trademark long pass from Thiago Alcantara. There was a thumping left-foot effort against the post and his match-winning leap to meet Konstantinos Tsimikas’s cross and, under pressure, place his header. “It was a real battle in the air - the goal is exceptional,” thought Klopp, “and the other chances were exceptional.”
Only City’s Erling Haaland has averaged more shots per game in the Premier League this season than Darwin. His difficulty is that being measured against Haaland is an unforgiving lens. That comparison was always going to stalk Darwin, who is only 11 months Haaland’s senior, and a big, strong centre-forward landing in Merseyside in the same summer the Norwegian came to Manchester. The comparison, in terms of goals, is stark. Haaland has 20 goals already in a City jersey, Darwin five for Liverpool.
But their trajectories are distinct. Three years ago Haaland had already scored a Champions League hat-trick. Three years ago, Darwin had only just made his debut in Europe, in the Spanish second division, for Almeria. His stepping stone to Liverpool would be Benfica, grandees of only the sixth-strongest domestic league in Europe. Haaland, born in Leeds and fluent in English, joined City after two-and-a-half seasons at Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
Liverpool v West Ham ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 8. The Brazilian’s marvellous penalty save maintained Liverpool’s first-half lead and his late stop from Soucek guaranteed the points. He did not have much to do in between but he was dependable when needed. AP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6. The 23-year-old was not as creative as usual but did not suffer many alarms defensively. He had his hands full with Benrahma late on. EPA -
Joe Gomez - 5. The 25-year-old made a stupid challenge to give away a needless penalty and was twitchy in the periods when West Ham flooded forward. He was effective in the air. Reuters -
Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman made a vital block to deny Downes and was commanding when the defence was under pressure. An assured display. AP -
Kostas Tsimikas - 6. The Greek provided a splendid cross for Nunez’s goal but he was sometimes drawn out of position, particularly before West Ham’s penalty. Robertson replaced him with nine minutes to go. AFP -
Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain kept up a high tempo in the first half and looked to release Nunez running behind. He seemed a bit tired towards the end but kept up his effort. EPA -
Thiago Alcantara - 7. The 31-year-old was in charge in the midfield and drove the team forward in the first half. His long ball to Nunez showed that a dangerous understanding is growing between the players. He was taken off in the 58th minute for Fabinho because his influence was declining. PA -
Fabio Carvalho - 6. The Portuguese buzzed around, closing down opponents and running at the defence. He was muscled out of the game on occasion and came off for Jones in the 57th minute. Getty -
Mohamed Salah - 6. The Egyptian was deployed on the right and had a couple of half chances. He was given few opportunities to run at the defence or get behind them. PA -
Roberto Firmino - 6. The Brazilian was bright in the opening period, operating in the space between the attack and midfield. He linked well with Nunez but was substituted for Milner with nine minutes to go. AP -
Darwin Nunez - 8. The Uruguayan is beginning to find his feet. He tested Fabianski with a spectacular effort and scored a tremendous header. The post denied him a second goal and he was withdrawn for Elliott in the 57th minute. AFP -
SUBS: Harvey Elliott - 6. The 19-year-old replaced Nunez in the 57th minute. He brought fresh legs to the team and dropped back to help the defence. Getty -
Curtis Jones - 6. The 21-year-old joined the action at Carvalho’s expense in the 57th minute. He had one effort on goal blocked. Reuters -
Fabinho - 5. The Brazilian came on for Thiago in the 58th minute. He lacked authority and was unable to stop West Ham getting on top. EPA -
Andrew Robertson - N/A. The Scot replaced Tsimikas with nine minutes left. He produced hard running and hard tackles. Getty -
James Milner - N/A. The 36-year-old came on for Firmino with nine minutes to go. His crucial tackle on Scamacca late in the game ensured Liverpool did not drop two points. Getty -
WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukasz Fabianski - 7. The Pole made a superb fingertip save from Nunez and foiled Salah late in the game. He had no chance with the goal. EPA -
Ben Johnson - 4. The 22-year-old gave away the ball after being caught in possession on the edge of his box and had a lucky escape. He gave Tsimikas too much room before the goal, which showed his inexperience. Getty -
Kurt Zouma - 6. The Frenchman got caught under the ball for Liverpool’s goal as Nunez split the centre-backs. He made a last-gasp clearance from Henderson’s cross and a number of blocks and interceptions. EPA -
Thilo Kehrer - 5. The German was slow to get to Nunez for the goal. He was guilty of dwelling on the ball and was fortunate not to be punished by Salah. AFP -
Aaron Cresswell - 5. The 32-year-old blocked a Firmino shot but he could have helped out the defence more efficiently. He created a chance that Scamacca wasted. AFP -
Flynn Downes - 6. The 23-year-old made his first Premier League start. He struggled to get into the game in the first half but was improving steadily until he was replaced by Antonio in the 74th minute. Getty -
Tomas Soucek - 6. The Czech was denied by Alisson late on but he was influential during West Ham’s best spells. He was less visible in the first half when Liverpool were in charge. PA -
Declan Rice - 7. The 23-year-old used the ball well and was clever in regaining possession for his team. Much of West Ham's thrust came from him. Getty -
Pablo Fornals - 4. The Spaniard was largely anonymous. The defence was comfortable when he was on the pitch and West Ham were better when he departed for Benrahma in the 61st minute. Getty Images -
Jarrod Bowen - 6. The 25-year-old won a penalty after a good run but his spot-kick was saved. His running from deep created danger but his end product was lacking. AP -
Gianluca Scamacca - 3. The Italian was poor. His touch and finishing let him down when he had a second-half chance. He was robbed by Milner in the closing minutes when he seemed certain to score. AP -
SUBS: Said Benrahma - 6. The Algerian replaced Fornals in the 61st minute. He was a source of danger down the left but should have levelled the scores when free at the back post but he mishit the ball. Getty -
Michail Antonio - 5. The 32-year-old was introduced for Downes with 16 minutes left. He never really got into the game and was frustrated when Scamacca shot instead of pulling the ball back. Getty
“He’s really young and has felt a little bit homesick,” acknowledged Klopp, who took Darwin off just before the hour against West Ham as a precaution because the player had reported a tightness in his hamstring at half-time. He expects him to be fit for the weekend.
“We must be careful with the boys and he is an exceptional talent,” added Klopp, “we see that in the runs, the physicality, the speed, the finishing skills. He has a good technique but sometimes he’s in a rush so the first contact goes a little bit. But when you’re young you have time to develop. We’re working on that.”
“He’s learning the way we play,” added Virgil van Dijk, the Liverpool defender who has a daily, close-up view in training of all Darwin’s gifts. “He’s the modern-day striker that causes defenders problems. You see his runs in behind and his build-up play is getting better. I think he has so much potential.”
