Stephen Warnock rues Liverpool star Darwin Nunez’s crucial miskick before Reds’ heroics
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock bemoaned Darwin Nunez’s shocking close-range miss at 2-2 as a pivotal moment in Liverpool FC’s dramatic 4-3 win over Fulham on Saturday at Anfield.
Warnock, commentating on BBC Radio 5 Live, felt Nunez should have restored Liverpool’s lead after being teed up six yards out. But the Uruguayan striker completely mishit his effort in a bad miss.
“It’s a sitter, a really poor finish from Darwin Nunez.
He is six yards out and completely miskicks the ball. It should be 3-2 to Liverpool.”
In an end-to-end Anfield classic filled with twists and turns, Nunez’s 72nd-minute fluff felt especially costly after Bobby De Cordova-Reid soon put the visitors 3-2 ahead.
Liverpool looked down and out before Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold snatched victory with two goals inside the final minutes of the game. The turnaround lifted the roof off Anfield as the Reds held on for a massive three points.
But Warnock argued Nunez blowing an easy chance to put Liverpool back in control earlier ultimately left the Reds clinging to hopes before the late drama. While Nunez’s scoring would certainly have made life easier for us, the striker did do his part by making the pre-assist for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s match-winning strike.
The 24-year-old Uruguayan’s struggles in his second Premier League season are no secret. But with Liverpool lacking certainty over Mohamed Salah‘s future, they desperately need their £85 million striker to sharpen up.
Opportunities as clear-cut as Saturday’s don’t come often against obdurate sides like Fulham. Yet Nunez somehow conspired to squander it with a fresh-air swipe six yards out.
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While Liverpool showed resilient character, Warnock felt Nunez owed his team by taking that golden chance to spare them needing another miracle comeback.
Missing sitters has become an alarming habit for Nunez. But with Liverpool battling on multiple fronts, they require efficiency from their faltering frontman, not glaring misses in pivotal moments.
