Iconic Liverpool striker Ian Rush has tipped two of the club's forwards to make a good start to life under Arne Slot . He believes a productive summer will stand them in good stead .
Rush is something of an authority on Liverpool attackers. He is clear at the top of the all-time club scoring charts, the only one who looks pretty comprehensively out of the reach of Mohamed Salah .
And he has expressed hope for two players who were somewhat maligned under Jurgen Klopp . He believes that impressive stints at the Copa America and Euro 2024 could be a sign of things to come.
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In particular, Darwin Nunez had a tough end to the Klopp era. He was consigned to the bench for the legendary coach's final few games, his long-term finishing struggles finally costing him a place in the side.
But Rush is one of a number of elite strikers to stand by Nunez. Those who have played the game at the top level recognize the massive value in the number of chances the Uruguayan is able to carve out for himself.
Nunez had a good summer with Uruguay, equaling a 96-year record for scoring in consecutive games with the national team. And Rush believes he will return from the Copa America in good form.
"Hopefully Nunez is Liverpool’s number nine. He is a great player, he’s had chances he’s missed but he’s only young and he is getting confident now," Rush told PA News at the opening of the new Liverpool museum.
“He’s had a fantastic summer. That breeds confidence. Sometimes when you go back to your country you do get more confident.
“I was in a similar position in Italy [when he moved to Juventus]; when you go to Wales [national team] you feel more comfortable as people speak the same language and when you go back it is a bit more difficult.
“Hopefully he can get the confidence to say to the manager "Play me week in, week out" as I am sure Slot will be saying "I want you as my number one". He’s got everything else, all he needs now is converting chances."
Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo was actually the one to unseat Nunez for the Liverpool run-in. But he didn't have things all his own way last season either, and he looked rejuvenated on the left wing for the Netherlands.
“I think Gakpo has had an excellent Euros," said Rush. "Maybe playing for Holland gives him more confidence. With Liverpool he’s not guaranteed a start where with Holland he is and that makes a difference for confidence in a striker if you are playing week in, week out.
"He knows he is based on the left side. We have got Nunez and (Mohamed) Salah and he’s more of an in-between man, a squad player because he can play in three or four different positions.
"If you are not playing week in week out you don’t know what to do but I am sure Slot will know what to do with him. He’s seen how he has been successful with Holland at the Euros."
Liverpool.com says: It's very exciting to see what Slot does with Nunez and Gakpo. They are two of the few players who perhaps did not reach their full potential under Klopp, so a change could do them some good.
Rush is right that they should both come back filled with confidence. For Nunez, especially, that seems like a hugely important part of his game.
Hopefully Nunez can decisively claim that number nine jersey, because that should leave Gakpo as more of a clear-cut left-winger. It now seems plain that this is his best role.
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