Ex-Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has backed Darwin Nunez for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
The Uruguayan international has made improvements during his second season at Anfield and Johnson says the problems that the striker causes opposition defences make him a strong candidate:
“I’d probably go with a surprise, someone like Darwin Nunez. People were saying that he doesn’t score enough goals, but when you think about the way that he plays, he’s probably the last person that you want to play against in the Premier League and that’s saying something with the other players that are available.”
“But yeah I’d probably go with someone like Nunez because he’d probably be the first striker, other than [Erling] Haaland, that I’d want in my team.”
Nunez is not a contender for Player of the Year
There is little to no chance that the forward will be among the nominees for this year’s award. His 11 goals and 8 assists in 29 league appearances is not a bad return but he hasn’t produced a level of performance that has blown people away.
Nunez is not even the favourite for the accolade among Liverpool’s squad, with Mo Salah expected to get more nominations from fellow professionals.
Who are the bookies favourites?
Manchester City’s Phil Foden is currently leading the betting at the bookmakers, with William Hill pricing the England international at 15/8. Teammate Rodri is second favourite, with Arsenal pair Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka third and fourth in the running respectively.
Salah and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk’s odds are longer, as is last season’s winner Erling Haaland. Nunez, meanwhile, is currently 250/1 with Bet 365 to win the award ahead of the more fancied contenders.
