Will the real Darwin Nunez please stand up?

It’s become a difficult task to predict which Darwin Nunez Liverpool will get in any given match.

The Uruguayan offers much to this Liverpool side. Between his link-up play, exceptional work rate, his aerial prowess, and physicality, he has proven himself a valuable addition to the Reds since his arrival in Merseyside two summers ago.

However, for all the strengths to his game, he has yet to consistently exhibit the most crucial attribute for any forward and the one for which Liverpool purchased him-finishing chances.

While he’s taken opportunities brilliantly on some occasions, his failure to finish off simple opportunities on others has been a source of frustration for the Liverpool faithful.

Liverpool’s recent outings at Bournemouth and Luton Town offer a perfect representation of the forward’s time at the club thus far.

Against Bournemouth, he bent in a superb effort from just inside the edge of the 18-yard box to restore his side’s lead with what proved the match winner, but just days later his wastefulness in front of goal saw the Reds drop points in what should have been a routine win over 17th place Luton Town.

If Nunez is to establish himself as Liverpool’s first choice at center-forward, he must put the chances he had over the weekend away.

With all respect to Luton Town, the Reds cannot drop points against sides that low in the table, particularly given the quality of their opportunities, if they aim to mount as serious a charge for the league title as they have over previous seasons.

Liverpool’s attacking depth creates heavy competition for places up front.

Nunez remains Jurgen Klopp’s preferred choice at center forward for now, but could find his place in the first XI in jeopardy to Cody Gakpo or Diogo Jota who have arguably both proven themselves more clinical in front of goal.

Still, Nunez’s lack of composure in front of goal does not paint a holistic picture of his contributions throughout the campaign.

While he ruthlessly dispatched chances in his heroic cameo off the bench at Newcastle and put Liverpool back in front with an excellent finish against West Ham, his importance to the side extends beyond his four league goals this season.

Nunez’s movement, aerial dominance and work rate have added another dimension to the Reds in the final third.

Though he arrived as a traditional number nine, Nunez has filled the role of the false nine effectively this season as his habit of dropping slightly deeper to receive the ball has freed up more space for Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz out wide.

He hasn’t scored at the same rate as he did when he netted 26 goals in 28 appearances in his final season at Benfica, but his four goals and three assists in ten league matches thus far still represents a respectable count for goal contributions.

Even despite some shocking misses, Nunez has given Liverpool supporters much to appreciate about his game.

He is right on the cusp of establishing himself as a world class forward. That is what makes his failure to convert the chances like the ones he had at Luton Town over the weekend all the more frustrating.