Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has urged Darwin Nunez to “stay calm” after the Uruguayan forward ended his long goal drought for the Anfield side. Nunez scored his first goal in 15 matches in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Bournemouth, a moment that saw him visibly emotional after his brilliant finish.
The 25-year-old striker is aiming for a fresh start under new head coach Arne Slot. He endured a difficult period towards the end of Jürgen Klopp’s tenure, losing his place in the team and facing criticism. Nunez’s frustration was evident when he deleted all Liverpool-related photos from his social media accounts, admitting the negative comments had taken a toll on him.
Van Dijk, known for his leadership and calm demeanor, has urged his teammate to maintain his composure amidst the spotlight. “For him, coming into a club like Liverpool with the price tag (a potential £85 million — $113 million — club record), there is always going to be pressure to produce week in, week out, and he is trying to do that, but it is not always that easy,” said the Dutch defender.
“Now it is time for him to stay calm, and I think, in my opinion, he has been doing that much better. The manager is busy with him a lot, and us as players, we just have to keep him close to us and keep going. He started (against Bournemouth) but he might not start the next game, and we want him to be consistent and keep doing it and doing it when he comes on and when he starts.”
Van Dijk highlighted the importance of consistency, emphasizing the need for Nunez to avoid getting carried away by the highs and lows of football. “That’s the main thing — don’t get dragged into the positivity and then the low of the negativity, or you will be dizzy at a certain point. Consistency is the key. I think he shouldn’t get carried away — but he won’t — and now is the time for him to recover and focus on the next opportunity he gets. That’s football.”
Slot has spoken about the need for Nunez to improve the defensive side of his game to become a more complete player, contributing more significantly to the team’s overall success. Liverpool currently sits second in the Premier League after winning four out of their first five matches.
Van Dijk believes Nunez is making strides in this area, stating, “He got a chance to be the starting striker and he worked very hard for that goal, but he worked hard defensively when we didn’t have the ball, and those are the things that we need from the whole team. The fans love him for his work-rate, his directness and what he brings to the table, and he got reward for the hard work he did with a good goal. But we want him to be consistent and keep doing it, and I am confident he will be fine.”
