Would Darwin Nunez have started in the Champions League against RB Leipzig had Diogo Jota been fit?
Who knows but the Uruguay forward took his chance when called upon by Arne Slot in Germany.
He capped a busy performance with a goal while he also had another attempt tipped over the crossbar and should have won a penalty after being clipped by Willi Orban, the officials waving away Liverpool’s strong appeals for a spot-kick.
Nunez has had to show patience under Slot who has played Jota, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz more frequently.
His winner against RB Leipzig – a point blank range finish after Salah’s header – will not win any goal of the season prizes.
But Nunez showed he remains a useful asset for Slot, with Nunez and Salah combining for 14 goals in all competitions since the beginning of the 2022-23 season.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne (21) are the only Premier League team-mates to combine for more in that period.
