Liverpool’s ‘nervous breakdown’ risks becoming Nunez 2.0

Liverpool made significant changes in the summer transfer window, with no team ever spending more than £400m in a single transfer window.

Although a high volume of sales meant their net spending fell short of Premier League leaders Arsenal, the scale of Liverpool’s transformation cannot be underestimated, with FSG breaking English transfer records twice.

First, Florian Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m. The world-class playmaker has been one of the most worrying parts of Arne Slott’s side’s struggles this season, but is yet to score or assist in the top flight.

Alexander Isak was also a concern and was signed for £125m on deadline day. The former Newcastle United striker was dubbed the “best striker in the Premier League” by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher last year, but has struggled to click with injuries and slot wingers, with just one goal and one assist in all competitions so far.

These players need to perform well. I’m sure you will. After all, these are two of the best in the world. However, the failed deal with Darwin Nuñez serves as a warning that FSG is probably not paying attention.

Why Liverpool sold Darwin Nunez

Nunez is one of Liverpool’s biggest and most frustrating mysteries of recent times. A maverick forward, the 25-year-old was woefully inconsistent throughout his three years at the club, scoring just 25 goals in total in the Premier League and missing out on many more golden chances.

Given that he was signed from Benfica for a club-record £85m (which he did not receive due to a clause not being met), Nunez could only be considered a botched deal, failing to put together the prolific form required to lead Liverpool’s front line.

Players like Wirtz and Isak will no doubt worry about facing the same assumed reputation, but both arrived at Liverpool from a higher position than Nunez, who was sold to Al Hilal this summer.

In any case, while Nunez will be fondly remembered for his efforts and, most of all, his tenacity in a Liverpool shirt, it is clear that had Liverpool’s fortunes been darker throughout his years at the club, he would have faced a more stinging rebuke.

And that may be the case for a certain new Redman. The player arrived this summer after paying a hefty fee and seems to have fallen in love with the slot system. In this respect, he is also in danger of falling into a similar category.

Liverpool star on the verge of becoming Nunez 2.0

Signed from Bournemouth in the summer for a fee of £45 million, Kelkes arrived at Liverpool with the weight of expectations and a reputation as one of the most exciting young left-backs in the world.

Despite impressing for Andoni Iraola’s side last year, Kerkes suffered a setback in his first few months on Merseyside.

Querquez’s transfer fee may be less than half that of a player like Nunez, but it’s still a significant amount for a full-back, and if he can’t maintain consistent form, he could plummet into similar territory as the Uruguayan.

There is no doubt that this youngster has what it takes to succeed at Liverpool. After all, he was included in the PFA Team of the Year for 2024/25.

But Kerkes has really struggled in his first few months at Liverpool, overshadowed by the south coast star.

Inconsistent and at odds with his assigned tactical role, the 22-year-old has lost his place in the starting XI in recent weeks and has been unable to effectively take part in the build-up.

Last season, Kelkes ranked in the top 12% of Premier League full-backs in progressive carries per 90 (2.86), but his ranking has slipped under Slott, and this year he ranks in the bottom 36% with an average of 1.55 (data courtesy of FBref).

But the far-reaching change in Kerkes’ tactical role is more clearly understood when looking at the extent of his poor form since his big-money move to Liverpool.

The £75,000-a-week talent can no longer make overlapping runs into the box and has also failed to find fluency and balance in his creativity this season. It’s hard to see what he will offer his new club at this point, considering he was branded a “nervous disabled man” by pundit Jamie Redknapp. That is why he has been on the bench for the Reds’ last two games in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Of course, it is too early to fire Mr. Kerkes, and this discussion is designed to highlight the need for improvement on Kerkes’ part, but it also offers a hope for patience. He is a young and talented left-back but has struggled to perform in a dysfunctional system over recent months.

Let’s not forget that Robertson struggled to adapt to Klopp’s side after joining from relegated Hull City in 2016 for around £8m. Imagine if Liverpool had released the Scottish player after a rocky first year and let him go before he developed.

Similarly, it is impossible to ignore the depth of Kerkes’ woes since joining Liverpool, as he has been too incongruous with aspects of the system in the slot.

It is a bit confusing that Kerkes was signed for such a large fee, given that the manager needs a big contribution from his full-backs in the build-up. He is an athletic, close-to-the-touchline type of player who flies up and down to join the attack and add width to the flanks.

Whether Liverpool can turn the young Hungarian into a superstar is anyone’s guess at this stage, but they do know he needs to work harder to avoid falling into the category of previous big-money signings like Nunez, who achieved great heights in smaller stadiums but ultimately stumbled when heading to Anfield Road and wearing Liverpool’s bulky kit.