Liverpool are soaring this season under Arne Slot, who has led the team to the top of the Premier League table after 15 games in his first campaign at Anfield. The transition from legendary manager Jürgen Klopp to Slot has been remarkably smooth, with the team showcasing their best form in the league.
Statistically, they have been fantastic. As per Understat, Liverpool have the second-highest number of expected goals, with 33.91, slightly more than they have scored. They also have an excellent expected goals against record, with 14.63; incredibly, they are outperforming that stat, having conceded just 11 Premier League goals, the best in the league.
Darwin Núñez Faces Challenges This Season
Despite Liverpool’s strong performance, star striker Darwin Núñez is having a difficult season.
Núñez’s 2024/25 Stats
The Uruguayan forward has struggled to meet the high expectations that came with his transfer, which saw Liverpool pay an initial £64 million to secure him from Benfica. With potential add-ons, the deal could rise to £85 million, adding to the pressure on Núñez as he aims to find his form.
Darwin Núñez has had a disappointing start at Anfield. In 115 appearances for Liverpool, he has scored just 32 goals and provided 19 assists, averaging 0.44 goals and assists per game.
Last season, it appeared he was gaining momentum, finishing with 11 goals and eight assists in 36 Premier League matches. However, under Arne Slot, his performance has dipped significantly, managing only three goals and two assists in 19 games across all competitions.
Liverpool’s coaching staff are likely worried about the form of their number nine, Darwin Núñez. Meanwhile, other attackers are finding the net consistently: Mohamed Salah has scored 16 goals, Luis Díaz has nine, and Cody Gakpo has netted eight. With the Reds needing more contributions from their strikers, a new centre-forward could be on the horizon.
Liverpool’s Pursuit of a Striker
One player linked to Liverpool is Sporting’s centre-forward, Viktor Gyökeres. According to a report by Florian Plettenberg in November, Liverpool is “currently in the race” to sign the Swedish international. They face competition from Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea, with the striker expected to cost around £57 million.
There’s little doubt that Viktor Gyökeres would be an improvement over Darwin Núñez in terms of goal-scoring. This season, Gyökeres has been outstanding, netting 25 goals and providing four assists in just 23 games across all competitions. He has also surpassed 50 goals in 2024, marking a remarkable year for the Sporting forward.
Statistical Comparison with Luis Suárez
Interestingly, a comparison can be made between Gyökeres and Liverpool legend Luis Suárez, according to FBref. Now 37 and playing for Inter Miami in the MLS, Suárez scored 82 goals in 133 appearances for Liverpool. These are the kind of impressive numbers that Gyökeres would aspire to achieve as he looks to make his mark at a top club.
According to FBref, the former Liverpool talisman averaged 0.94 goals per game last season, with Sporting striker Gyokeres impressively exceeding that number, with 1.33. Not only that, he has a better expected goals tally than Suarez, with 1.09 compared to 0.63 for the Uruguayan.
It is perhaps worth mentioning Nunez’s stats in relation to those numbers, too. In 2024/25, the Reds number nine has so far averaged 0.29 goals per game and an expected goals per game of just 0.3
