“He is a fighter, he’s determined” - Emile Heskey insists Liverpool have to appreciate struggling 25-year-old star

Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey believes that it is important to appreciate Darwin Nunez's efforts this season. The Uruguayan forward has dropped down the pecking order at Anfield since the arrival of Arne Slot this summer.

Nunez has appeared nine times across competitions this season for the Reds, scoring two goals and setting up one more. However, the 25-year-old has started just once for Liverpool in the Premier League, in the 3-0 win over Bournemouth in September.

Against Chelsea, Nunez replaced the injured Diogo Jota in the 30th minute and won five of his seven duels in the first half. While he hasn't been as productive in front of goal so far, Heskey believes the player's efforts should be appreciated.

Speaking to Tribal Football, the former English international was full of praise for Nunez.

“No, I don’t think more defensively, I think he’s just chipping in and that’s just him through and through. He is a fighter, he’s a determined, he’s a workhorse. I think that’s one of his traits that we are appreciating,” said Heskey.

He continued:

"But again he is a forward so we have got to look at the other end of it where we have got to appreciate his goalscoring, his assists and his tenacity to open up defences. We have got to start looking at that as well but it is just another part of his game that we all love.”

Slot has preferred Jota ahead of Nunez this season, with the Portuguese registering four goals and two assists from ten games for Liverpool.

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Could Darwin Nunez leave Liverpool in 2025?

Darwin Nunez

Darwin Nunez joined Liverpool in the summer of 2022, completing a reported £64m move from Benfica. He arrived in the Premier League in the same summer as Erling Haaland, but the two have endured contrasting fortunes so far.

While the Norwegian has already cross the 100 goal mark for the reigning champions, Nunez has struggled to live up to expectations. He has scored just 35 goals in 105 games across competitions for the Reds so far.

He is no longer a first team regular under Arne Slot and the Merseyside club could be looking for an upgrade next summer. Nunez will not be pleased at playing second fiddle to Diogo Jota at Anfield. The arrival of a new fresh could spell trouble for the player.

As such, the Uruguayan could consider his future unless his situation improves in the coming months. His contract with Liverpool expires in 2028.