Meetings between Liverpool and Manchester City have always packed a punch, but this year there are two new kids on the block.
The signings of Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland for £85million and £51million respectively ensured that already attacking sides would have a further lethal streak as two of the world’s most talented number nines arrived in the Premier League.
Adjusting to life in a new country and a new league while playing alongside new teammates will always be difficult, but both players have already shown they have more than enough ability and charisma to deal with the pressure of what awaits them.
For Nunez, it was an electric start for Liverpool with two goals in his first two games before a suspension and lack of form from Jurgen Klopp’s side made things a bit more difficult.
As for Haaland, let’s just say he rose to the challenge with the kind of confidence and consistency that saw him become a future GOAT.
Here, talkSPORT.com takes a deep dive into the two strikers and how they have settled into becoming the Premier League’s best strikers.
Darwin Nunez
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Nunez has certainly had his best moments since joining Anfield
The story so far
The Liverpool striker started his career in his native Uruguay before heading to Spain with Almeria where he scored 16 goals in 32 appearances to earn a big shot at Portuguese giants Benfica.
In two seasons in Portugal, Nunez scored 48 goals in 85 appearances to become one of Europe’s top scorers and secured a move to Liverpool that could be worth up to £85million.
Life under Jurgen Klopp couldn’t have been better after scoring on his debut in the Community Shield win over Manchester City, before getting a goal and an assist on his Premier League debut against Fulham.
His start at Anfield was not so successful, with the 23-year-old being sent off less than an hour into the game and derailing his exceptional start to the season.
It took time for Nunez to find his feet, but after finding the net in the 3-2 loss to Arsenal last weekend, the Uruguayan star will be brimming with confidence once again as he looks to show to Klopp that he is the man to fire Liverpool. save the table.
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However, a sending-off on his home debut hampered what looked to be a bright start to life at the club.
Liverpool stats
National appearances: 6
National goals: 3
Assists: 1
Champions League appearances: 4
Champions League goals: 1
What was said?
Having been brought in as an attacking replacement for Sadio Mane, Nunez has had some big boots to fill at Anfield and according to Jason Cundy he hasn’t quite reached that level yet.
He explained: “Last year Liverpool would probably get four and five against Rangers, but this season it’s a little disappointing.
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However, the Uruguayan is now back to his best after scoring against Arsenal at the weekend.
“He’s just joined Liverpool, it’s a huge club and a huge fee and he hasn’t reached Sadio Mane’s level yet and that’s tough.
“Mane was one of the best at Liverpool and one of the best, not just in this country but in all of Europe, so he [Nunez] has a long way to go.
As Haaland sets the tone for forwards in the Premier League and beyond, Micky Gray believes Nunez had a “difficult” start to life with the Reds.
He said: “Everyone thought Nunez was going to be the next Haaland, but it was tough for him.
“He received this red card at the start of his career here at Liverpool.
“Although he scored a goal against Arsenal, I don’t see this superstar I see at Man City.”
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TalkSPORT pundits run out of superlatives for Haaland
Erling Haaland
The story so far
If you put an obstacle in Haaland’s way, you just know he’s going to win and more.
Having started his career with his local club Bryne, Haaland’s potential was clear from the start as he moved to Norwegian giants Molde aged just 16 where he scored 20 goals in 60 appearances.
He then moved to Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg where he scored 29 goals in 27 appearances before earning a move to German giants Borussia Dortmund less than a year later.
Many expected Dortmund to be where Haaland would have to adapt to life at the top level, but instead he scored 86 goals in 89 appearances for the club in two and a half years.
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It was clear City were signing a top, top Dortmund player
During his move to Manchester City, it was clear that Haaland was a goalscoring talent, but the question remained, how would he face the best defenders in the world in the Premier League?
Needless to say, that hasn’t been a problem for Haaland who has already netted 15 league goals and 20 in total for Guardiola’s side, including three hat-tricks already.
Still only 22 years old, Haaland is simply unstoppable and seems to have a place in every record book to secure if he so chooses.
Manchester City statistics
National appearances: 10
Premier League goals: 15
Premier League assists: 3
Champions League appearances: 3
Champions League goals: 5
BT Sports
Even Guardiola couldn’t believe how well he did
What was said?
One man who knows Haaland better than anyone is Norway national team manager Stale Solbakken, who believes Haaland’s success is by no means one to watch.
He said: “He’s easy to work with because he has a great thirst for improvement and I think you can see Dortmund’s move to Man City has made him an even stronger player.
“He already has more aspects to his game, he’s better in smaller areas and I think you’re born with that feeling of being in the right position. I think he’s born with that.
“You can teach it a certain way, but you can’t put it all back together. Either you have it or you don’t and he does.
As Haaland hopes to inspire City to glory against Liverpool, Reds legend Graeme Souness has been lyrical about the striker saying his talents are almost inhuman.
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Souness thinks Haaland is almost inhuman after saying he has no weaknesses
Souness explained: “He is phenomenal. He’s like a factory-made goal-scoring machine.
“The height, the athleticism, the attitude, I don’t see where he can improve. I’m sure Pep would say he could do this or that.
“He doesn’t take many touches, he’s thrifty, he’s incredibly athletic, he’s got a footballing brain.
“I love him. When he scores a goal he doesn’t run away to the crowd saying ‘it’s all up to me’ and kissing the badge, he wants to be among his teammates.
“I don’t think he has a weakness.”
