REVEALED: The player who will WIN Liverpool the Premier League title

Darwin Nunez has long struggled at Liverpool to make significant headway in the Reds' forward line.

Throughout his initial season in 2022/23, he was tasked with learning under a new coach, speaking a new language and competing with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota for minutes.

Subsequently, his season was littered with errors as he struggled to perform, notching 15 goals overall and four assists in his opening campaign on Merseyside.

In addition, his follow-up season was also seen as below par, as consistent starts evaded him, despite the Uruguayan putting up 18 goals and thirteen assists across all competitions.

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But the club and the fans have continued to back him, given his promising returns have come with the context of playing in and out of the team, and when the remainder of Liverpool's forward line is producing attacking returns, the pressure on Nunez to deliver relinquishes, allowing him to play with freedom.

Nunez's run of games this season

Once again, Diogo Jota was given the nod as Liverpool's striker this season, by new coach Arne Slot, but Nunez is a player that the Dutchman was reportedly very keen on working closely with.

Arriving back to Liverpool late in the offseason, having only recently finished a tumultuous Copa America campaign with Uruguay, fans saw little of the player in the opening few games.

And while Jota took the reins from the off, it took until September for Nunez to get his first start of the campaign, against Bournemouth in Liverpool's sixth game of the season, and he was given a chance in the following few games.

But against Chelsea, just three weeks ago, Jota came off injured and Slot's hand was forced. Nunez took on the responsibility and has slotted into the side seamlessly, working incredibly hard in the heart of the pitch - reminiscent of Firmino - and getting in behind opposition defences to create havoc once again.

In four Premier League starts, he has two goals and one assist, in addition to creating two big chances and missing one.

His profile is different to Jota, but Liverpool are yet to significantly miss the Portuguese striker, now that the Reds' big-money signing from two years ago is being given his latest time to shine.

Nunez the key

Speaking on talkSPORT after Nunez's incredible, tight finish in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, Tony Cascarino gave his thoughts on Nunez.

He said: "I was very critical of Nunez last year, because I felt that Liverpool had a chance to win the league and he needed to be clinical. And I think a lot rests on him again this year.

"He's been an in-and-out player at Liverpool [45 starts in his time at Liverpool so far] and yet he's been there for two years. If he's clinical and gets 15 plus goals in a season, then Liverpool can win the league because he gives another dimension to them.

"He has so many attributes in his game and the fans love him, and they always have done. It will make Arne Slot's job a lot easier if he can give competition to that forward line."

15 wins from 17

The Reds' forward line has already been prolific in front of goal, with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo competing in the same side for best left winger in the Premier League, as Mohamed Salah continues on his usual world-class form.

But Liverpool's striker has also scored six goals and four assists this season, whether it has been Jota or Nunez in the role.

Regardless of which one is fit, should the Reds' striker continue to produce when given licence on the pitch, then Liverpool's attack will undoubtedly keep ticking along nicely.

Arne Slot's side have started the season with 15 wins from 17 games in all competitions, sitting top of the Champions League group phase and the Premier League.

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