Liverpool must terrify Arsenal with apprentice of the player Arsene Wenger always craved

Luis Suarez used to terrorise Arsenal whenever he played for Liverpool, so much so that Gunners legend Arsene Wenger tried to sign him in with an ill-advised £40million+£1 bid back in 2013. At some point, the Merseyside outfit will be hoping Darwin Nunez can follow the controversial striker’s lead.

Suarez was adored by Liverpool fans for his magical exploits on the pitch in his three-and-a-half-year spell in England, where he scored 82 goals in 133 games. They haven’t warmed to Nunez quite in the same way, even if the maverick striker is appreciated for his efforts.

But the turning point his Reds career could arrive in north London when he is all but guaranteed a start to spearhead Arne Slot’s frontline. If he is to shine against Arsenal, he could do worse than lean on his close friend Suarez for some pointers.

Liverpool will be disappointed to have lost Diogo Jota to injury, especially given his impressive record. He had hit six goals in 11 games against Arsenal – including five in seven with Liverpool – and will be a big miss up front.

Nunez, meanwhile, has only scored once in his seven games against the Gunners and is yet to end up on the winning side.

His solitary goal against Mikel Arteta’s men came in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates back in the 2022-23 season, but the past won’t matter as much to Slot if he fires home the winner at the Emirates today to help their title credentials.

The 25-year-old hasn’t had the easiest ride since arriving at Anfield from Benfica in 2022 and only now seems to be overcoming the language barrier as he improves his English.

Nunez is a striker that thrives on continuity and faith from his manager and, while he may be tempted to use Cody Gakpo through the middle, starting Nunez there may be the more sensible move.

Nunez isn’t a plug-and-play kind of striker – he requires confidence and familiarity to reach his highest level. Before he signed for Liverpool, he started 24 of 28 games and smashed 26 goals for the Portuguese club in the Primeira Liga.

Five of his 11 Premier League goals last season came in a seven-game burst, where he also got two assists. Just like Suarez, he wears his heart on his sleeve and sometimes, his emotions can get the better of him – as reflected by his eight yellow card in 36 appearances in the league last term.

Nunez has begun to repay his manager’s faith with a goal in the 3-0 win over Bournemouth and put in a tireless shift off the bench for an hour against Chelsea.

With Jota out for the foreseeable future, he cannot pass up this golden opportunity to put together some real momentum. The best way to start? Scoring in a win against Arsenal at the Emirates – just like his countryman Suarez did 13 years ago.