Football News: Darwin Núñez Shines for Uruguay in Copa América Opener
In the opening game of the Copa América, Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez found the back of the net for Uruguay, leading them to a 3-1 victory against Panama in Miami. This performance was no surprise, given Núñez’s recent impressive form for Marcelo Bielsa’s national team.
Núñez has been on a scoring spree for Uruguay, netting nine goals in his last six international appearances. The 25-year-old has scored 12 goals in 24 caps, with his form improving significantly since Bielsa took charge of the national team last year.
The Uruguayan striker has been a standout performer in the South American qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, with his goals coming in crucial matches. He opened the scoring in a 2-0 win against Brazil in October and followed that up with a goal in a 2-0 victory against world champions Argentina at La Bombonera in November.
Núñez’s impressive form for Uruguay is a welcome sight for Liverpool, as he had a difficult end to the Premier League season, providing only one goal and one assist in his final 11 league appearances. The striker was often used as a substitute by Jürgen Klopp, with the manager opting to start Cody Gakpo more frequently.
Since joining Liverpool in the summer of 2022 for a hefty fee of £85m, Núñez has had a mixed time at the club. While he scored 26 goals and provided four assists in his final season at Benfica, he has struggled to replicate that form in the Premier League, scoring 20 goals and laying on 11 assists in two seasons.
However, Núñez’s performances for Uruguay suggest that he could be a better fit in a 4-2-3-1 formation, similar to the one employed by Bielsa and Arne Slot’s Feyenoord. This system allows for a striker to be the focal point, with a No. 10 behind them creating chances, which seems to suit Núñez’s strengths.
As Núñez continues to shine for Uruguay at the Copa América, it will be interesting to see if Slot, the new Liverpool manager, decides to incorporate a 4-2-3-1 formation and give the striker a fair chance to showcase his abilities.
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