1 day ago
44
Simon Jordan has dismissed suggestions that Liverpool made a mistake by selling Darwin Nunez during the summer transfer window.
After lifting the Premier League title last season, Liverpool’s campaign has already stalled well before Christmas. The Reds sit ninth in the table, 11 points adrift of Arsenal in first, having lost six matches. Despite a major squad overhaul over the summer, the team has struggled to maintain last season’s form.
Alexander Isak was signed for a British record fee of $169 million, but he has scored just once in the league, while Hugo Ekitike has found the net three times.
Nunez, who spent three seasons at Anfield and scored five league goals on the way to last season’s title, was sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for up to $75 million.
Jordan argues it would be misguided to assume Nunez would have solved Liverpool’s problems even if he had remained at Anfield.
“People will ask about the idea of why they bought Isak and (Hugo) Ekitike, then people start talking about Nunez," said Jordan on talkSPORT.
"I've heard people start to rewrite history. Nunez was a waste of time; they couldn't get him out of the door fast enough; people couldn't criticize him more.
"Then all of a sudden, he is the reason potentially why Liverpool aren't operating at a level. Nunez couldn't hit a cow's backside with a banjo at times."
Liverpool travel to Leeds with head coach Arne Slot facing mounting pressure to turn results around. The Reds were held to a poor 1-1 draw against Sunderland earlier this week, with much of the team struggling to make an impact.
Several key players have seen their form dip, including Mohamed Salah, who netted 34 goals last season, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ibrahima Konate.
Dominik Szoboszlai has been a standout performer for Liverpool, though Jordan warned the midfielder might be “catching the bug.”
He added: “This Liverpool side are there to have a go at and their lustre has gone. It's the same, to an extent, as Man City. People think they can have a go at Man City. Previously, Man City and Liverpool were beating teams in the tunnel.
“Why players aren't at the level, why they aren't at it is beyond me because that's a choice. If you're out of form and sorts, the next player comes in, and you use rotation, but this is a malaise that has pervaded the entire team.
"Look at some of the balls (Szoboszlai) took, they have got a corner to try to win the game, and it can't even beat the first man. That's symptomatic of the malaise running through the team. He is catching the bug."
English (US) ·