Liverpool’s Absences Set Stage for £124m Partnership to Shine

Liverpool faces a challenge in their upcoming match against Brighton with Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo sidelined. The aftermath of an eventful clash with Tottenham last week, which resulted in red cards for Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones, along with Cody Gakpo’s injury, has left Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp with a clearer starting lineup. This situation presents an opportunity to highlight the growing partnership between Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Klopp has been cautious about starting Nunez this season, often naming him on the bench for five out of Liverpool’s seven Premier League games. However, the 24-year-old has shown his threat whenever he has taken to the field, particularly with his memorable late brace against Newcastle last month to secure victory.

Nunez also found the net in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over West Ham. However, he was not included in the lineup for the Tottenham game, likely due to Klopp’s intention to use him as a substitute. Unfortunately, red cards for Jones and Jota during the Tottenham match left Klopp with limited offensive options.

Now, with Jota and Gakpo unavailable, Nunez is poised to make his third league start of the season. The partnership between Nunez and Szoboszlai, positioned just behind him, could hold the key to Liverpool’s title ambitions this season.

Both Nunez and Szoboszlai were marquee signings for Liverpool, with a combined cost of £124 million over the past two summer transfer windows. Nunez joined the club last year as a relatively unproven talent on the European stage, but he has showcased his abilities up front.

This season, Nunez appears more composed, which may be attributed in part to Szoboszlai’s presence in the attacking midfield role in Klopp’s lineup. Liverpool had been lacking an attack-minded midfielder in recent years to bridge the gap between the front line and the midfield, and this partnership may hold the solution to that issue.