Liverpool suffer huge injury setback ahead of EPL clash with Brighton-Hove Albion

Darwin Nunez is expected to miss Liverpool’s Premier League match against Brighton on Saturday.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Uruguay international has a “minor injury” and has been missing from training this week.

Jurgen Klopp is already missing long-term absentees Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, and Roberto Firmino is unlikely to return anytime soon.

Nunez’s absence is likely to result in a Premier League debut for January signing Cody Gakpo, who made his Liverpool debut in last weekend’s 2-2 FA Cup third-round draw against Wolves.

After a difficult couple of weeks in which his erratic finishing was once again scrutinized, the summer signing from Benfica got back on the scoresheet against Wolves.

Nunez has scored 10 goals in all competitions since joining from Benfica, but he has come under fire for a string of high-profile misses.

Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, believes the 23-year-old has what it takes to be a huge success at Anfield under Klopp.

‘Nobody has fluffed more big chances than Nunez in the Premier League this season,’ he told The Athletic (15 according to Opta).

When you compare that to his transfer fee, his goals to Haaland’s, Liverpool’s struggles in the Premier League, and those cruel chants from opposing fans about him being “just a s*** Andy Carroll,” it doesn’t look good, does it?

‘Most of it, however, is grossly unfair. Nunez is a modern forward in the mold of Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane rather than a traditional center-forward, and he is no goalscoring machine like Haaland.

‘But who is? It wasn’t long ago that a goal every other game was considered a good return for most players, and perhaps Haaland, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo have changed that.

‘However, they are anomalies, not the norm. It is not for everyone.’