Liverpool are back in action ahead of their Premier League title defence as they’ve been warming up with a few pre-season friendlies.
The Reds have faced off against Preston North End and Stoke City already, while games against the likes of AC Milan and Athletic Bilbao are set to follow.
It’s early days yet, but we’ve already got a glimpse of some of Liverpool’s brilliance in pre-season, and speaking to The Redmen TV, Ian Rush has highlighted one player in particular who has impressed him.
Indeed, Rush has praised Darwin Nunez, claiming that he’s gone a long way towards proving he can be the main man for Liverpool this season.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty ImagesIan Rush praises Darwin Nunez
Rush spoke about Nunez and his current situation.
Nunez is expected to leave Liverpool this summer, and with the Reds chasing Alexander Isak, an exit could be imminent.
However, Rush has been impressed by Nunez in pre-season, claiming that he’s starting to show Arne Slot what he’s all about.
“Well, I think he’s been here three years now, hasn’t he? You know, and, I I like him, you know. I think he’s a great player,” Rush said.
“Sometimes when you’re not playing regularly it maybe affects your form, you need 10 games to prove what you’re doing.
“And I think what Darwin has done now this season we’ve said you need to take your chance when you can know we’ve got two games here I think 29 we have players so you only may get like 20, 30 minutes maybe half a game.
“So you need to prove to the manager that ‘I’m the man for that’ and so far he’s done that.”
Darwin Nunez stats in pre-season so far
Rush says Nunez has been proving his ability in pre-season and he’s not wrong.
Of course, these are just warm-up games against Championship opposition, but Nunez has been producing the goods ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as the stats show.
Darwin Nunez’s pre-season stats so farGames2Goals4
Four goals in two games is nothing to be sniffed at, and regardless of the non-competitive nature of these matches, this will do Nunez’s confidence the world of good.
Nunez has been heavily criticised over the years, so it’s nice to see Rush giving him some praise.
The striker is expected to be sold this summer, but, who knows? Perhaps he could prove his doubters wrong and become a key player for Liverpool this season.