Michael Owen is concerned about the gaps in Darwin Nunez’s game (Picture: TNT Sport)
Michael Owen fears Darwin Nunez still requires ‘a lot of coaching’ after watching the Liverpool striker’s glaring miss in last night’s Europa League win over Union Saint-Gilloise.
Goals from Ryan Gravenberch, his first for the club since his summer move from Bayern Munich, and Diogo Jota secured a routine win for Jurgen Klopp’s side who bounced back from last weekend’s setback against Tottenham.
Despite the victory, Owen was concerned by the performance of Nunez who continues to blow hot and cold, particularly in front of goal.
A matchwinning cameo against Newcastle earlier this season appeared likely to be a significant turning point for the former Benfica star who, despite his wayward finishing, has earned cult hero status at Anfield.
Nunez, however, failed to get on the scoresheet again last night and an indifferent performance was capped by a shocking miss from just six yards out when he conspired to miss the target completely, having been set-up by Mohamed Salah.
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And while Owen believes Nunez boasts many of the attributes required to become an elite striker, he fears a lack of composure will continue to undermine the Uruguay international.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Owen argued: ‘It’s either lack of confidence, or lack of ability or not concentrating but in theory in professional football most people should be able to finish that.
‘Nothing he does surprises me really and I mean he does some great things and then some awful things, he’s got so many gaps in his game, and I think he’s got the raw material of being a top player but he needs a lot of coaching and maybe a bit more experience.
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‘When you spend the money they’ve spent I thought you’d get more of a rounded player, I’ve been surprised to see how many gaps he’s got in his game and I’m always reluctant to write him off because I think he’s got some unbelievable attributes.
‘I think of someone like Didier Drogba when he first came people laughed at him for the first year or two, his touch was everywhere and then all of a sudden he just turned.
‘I just think this lad could be that type of player, with improvement he could be an unbelievable player but he’s got to brush up on the obvious, easy parts of his game.’
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