Nunez laughs off his critics with a decisive double to bolster Liverpool's title bid

A punchline of a different sort. Darwin Nunez hasn’t had the most enjoyable season so far, to the point that his performances have been met with some derision, but yesterday he had his best day at Liverpool for over a year. Or, perhaps, his best few minutes.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

This trip to Brentford was an occasion when his team needed goals, and especially a match-winning stoppage-time double like this, almost more than Nunez himself. As the board went up to show a mere four minutes remaining, the 0-0 scoreline was about to bring Liverpool’s fifth draw in eight games. That would only have invigorated second-placed Arsenal, who were starting against Aston Villa immediately afterwards.

The entire mood instead turned on Nunez’s pivot. At 91 minutes, with the ball finally breaking the right way for Liverpool in the Brentford box, Trent Alexander-Arnold clipped in a low cross for the striker to swivel and finish with power. Moments later, he doubled his tally for the game and his entire league campaign, by turning and smashing in another. It was quite a moment to claim his first goals in a month, and just his third and fourth in the league overall, as Liverpool claimed a 2-0 victory at what Arne Slot described as one of the hardest away trips in the Premier League.

The Dutch coach did make a point of stating that his team had subjected Brentford to one of their own toughest experiences, as there won’t be too many occasions when they face 37 shots. One of those efforts was an absurdly wayward Nunez header, of the type that looks a visible example of a striker struggling for confidence and has caused much rolling of eyes among Liverpool’s support.

It’s why the Uruguayan displayed a steel, and admirable perseverance. You wouldn’t have guessed he has endured such an unproductive period from the manner in which he took both goals.