Michael Owen has insisted that Darwin Nunez has ‘so many gaps in his game’ after the Liverpool striker missed an easy tap-in during his side’s 2-0 win over Union-Saint Gilloise.
The Reds cruised to a win over the Belgian side courtesy of Ryan Gravenberch’s first goal for the club, and a late Diogo Jota finish.
Despite Liverpool dominating much of the game, Nunez failed to convert a flowing team move when Mohammed Salaha squared him the ball to poke into an open net.
Former Liverpool striker Owen said in his post match analysis that it surprised him how much quality Nunez was lacking in certain areas, and that he expected more from someone with such a hefty pricetag.
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has insisted Darwin Nunez is missing parts of his game
The Uruguayan failed to secure a regular starting spot at Liverpool since his big money move
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.’
Nunez has endured a mixed spell at Liverpool since his £85m move from Benfica, scoring 19 goals in 51 appearances.
Owen continued: ‘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.’
