Jose Enrique blames Erling Haaland for the struggles of Liverpool summer signing Darwin Nunez

Jose Enrique blames Erling Haaland for the struggles of Liverpool summer signing Darwin Nunez

Jose Enrique claims that Erling Haaland’s success at Manchester City is the reason Darwin Nunez is currently struggling at Liverpool.

Nunez was brought to Anfield by Jurgen Klopp this summer in a transaction that cost a whopping £64 million up front and a further £85 million in add-ons.

The 22-year-old, however, has struggled a lot, scoring only two goals in his first eight games across all competitions, which has been a bad start for both the player and the team, with Liverpool currently sitting in ninth place in the Premier League.

Nunez was expected to excel at Liverpool like Erling Haaland did at Manchester City this summer, who also moved to England.

However, their starts to the season could not have ended up more different, with the Norway international in spectacular form since his arrival at the Etihad.

Former Liverpool left-back given the comparisons throughout the summer, Enrique believes Nunez’s psychological state is being affected by Haaland’s achievement.

‘It’s a difficult situation for Nunez and the price tag that Liverpool paid for him and the price tag that City paid for Haaland,’ he told Lord Ping.

‘Haaland is flying, he’s not. It’s definitely affecting him mentally. It’s not helping him get into form.

‘The team performance doesn’t help and under Klopp, Liverpool always plays with a false nine and he’s a proper number nine.

Darwin Nunez (Getty Images)

‘Liverpool needs to adapt to him as well. It’s a worrying thing but Liverpool wants to fight for everything and the player you signed to replace Mane isn’t playing. Firmino and Jota should be playing ahead of him at the moment.

‘Nunez should be focusing on his displays, work on his English and forget about Haaland.

‘Haaland’s form shouldn’t affect Nunez but players always compare themselves with other players. The two teams competing for the Premier League in the last few seasons both signed big players.

‘He should be focusing on his performance, improving his English and forget about Haaland.

‘A lot of people go at Haaland but it never affects him. Darwin is lacking that right now’.

In other news, (VIDEO): Watch What Jurgen Klopp told Darwin Nunez after he was subbed off against Rangers