There is no denying that Year 3 of the Darwin Nunez Experiment has been an abject failure as his production has taken a drastic step back from his first two seasons at Anfield.
Nunez had an up-and-down debut season that ended with a total of 20 goal contributions across all competitions. This was followed by an improved Year 2 last season that saw the Uruguayan record 31 goal contributions in all comps.
Coming into the the 2024/25 season he was trending upwards in his Reds career even as the club brought in Arne Slot to replace the legendary Jurgen Klopp.
The season has seen more valleys than peaks which is what balanced out his chaotic game in previous seasons. "Captain Chaos" could spurn several clear chances until he scored a worldie. Those have been fewer and fewer this campaign.
Now, with rumors circling that he might be in the last few months of Liverpool career, Darwin is once again seemingly finding his game at the most important of times for the club.
Champions League heroics in Paris
It began during the midweek in Paris during the Round of 16 first-leg as the Reds were being thoroughly dominated by their hosts and it was only an otherworldly Alisson game that kept them in it.
Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah were almost non-existent for long stretches of play and it was looking like there would be no way to salvage something positive from the trip.
Slot introduced Nunez for the aforementioned Jota in a straight swap to try and change things, and it worked almost instantly.
The physicality and directness of Nunez's game caught PSG off guard as he was putting pressure on the back line like no other Liverpool player had been able to up to that point.
He added a fresh dimension to the Reds attack with his willing running and strength against the likes of Marquinhos.
He capped his super sub display by winning a long ball from the back and showing great composure to round the defense and lay a perfectly weighted pass for Harvey Elliott to run on to and finish first-time.
It was a brilliant cameo that showed flashes of the player we have seen on several occasions during his Liverpool career but much less in recent months
Perfect Premier League follow-up
It was good to see that Slot rewarded Darwin's effort with a start on Saturday in the Premier League against Southampton.
Right from the start he was pushing the pace and linking up well with the other forwards and advanced midfielders. He was putting himself in dangerous positions all day long and was a strong outlet for his side.
Just after the break, with his side down a goal, he made a perfectly timed run and showed exquisite touch on the side-footed poke goal from a Luis Diaz pass-back.
It was a clinical finish that has been missing from his game this season and it was so good to see him take it with no hesitation or fear and convert with class.
Soon thereafter he won a penalty for the Reds as he once again was imposing his physical frame in the opponents box causing Will Smallbone to kick through him. Mo Salah would convert the penalty and away the Reds went onto victory.
He still has a significant role to play
These two brilliant displays showcase the best of what Darwin Nunez can bring to a football team on a weekly basis. His problem has always been the consistency to replicate these outings.
As we look ahead, there is no denying that Nunez could be a vital piece in the club's hunt for a treble this season.
He could bring a fresh outlet in the attack to alleviate even a bit of the pressure on Salah to produce every single time out. His undeniable work-rate is higher than Jota's and a few others so he will naturally stretch defenses which should create more space for other attacking players to roam in.
However, this is not to say that he is all the way back and should get a contract extension. He will need to produce for more than two matches to convince the world he deserves a shot to stick here.
Whether it comes from the bench or starting, Darwin will have some kind of role to play and if he can rise to the occasion, it might go a long way towards spelling success for Liverpool come May.