Virgil van Dijk loves Darwin Nunez BATTLING with Liverpool ‘rival’

Liverpool’s victory over Bournemouth on Saturday marked Darwin Nunez’s first start under head coach Arne Slot, and the Uruguayan star shone for the Reds.

In his first start for Liverpool since April, Nunez also scored his first Premier League goal since April, and it was a wonderful strike.

With the Reds already 2-0 up after a quickfire double from Luis Diaz, Nunez picked up the ball on the right-hand side of the pitch and cut inside before curling the ball in off the back post.

Nunez’s goal was the icing on the cake for Liverpool who looked back to their best after a defeat at Anfield to Nottingham Forest in their previous Premier League match.

READ MORE: Arne Slot drops early Liverpool team news hint ahead of West Ham

What did Virgil van Dijk have to say about Nunez’s performance?

Liverpool supporters were left impressed by Nunez but they weren’t the only ones.

The Reds captain, Virgil van Dijk, gave a glowing review of his 25-year-old teammate and shared some insight into his position in the squad.

“Obviously happy for him. He has to keep working, keep being important when he has the chance.” Van Dijk told the club website.

“Obviously he has a very good ‘opponent’ or ‘rival’ or however you want to call it in Diogo Jota with him, so they have to challenge each other and push each other. That’s the only way we can be successful.”

Jota’s recent slump in form had some feeling that this change was inevitable and Nunez certainly made the most of the opportunity.

“The way he responded today after his first start of the season is obviously the one we want to see. He has to keep working, like the rest of the team.”

Nunez’s difficult start to the season

Before Saturday’s game, Nunez had played less than a quarter of the available minutes, coming off the bench in four of Liverpool's five opening games.

The striker failed to make a lasting impression in any of these cameos and the majority of these matches had already been won by the time Nunez stepped foot on the pitch.

On his return to Liverpool’s starting XI, however, Nunez stepped up and showed why Slot should be starting him more.

Jota’s numbers have dwindled since he scored against Ipswich Town in the Reds’ opening game of the season and now Nunez may have gained the upper hand in the pair’s ‘rivalry’.

Liverpool’s next game sees them begin their Carabao Cup defence against West Ham on Wednesday 25 September, and it could prove the perfect opportunity for either Nunez to nail down his place in the starting XI or for Jota to claw some ground back against his ‘rival’.