It is not quite Jay-Z’s 99 Problems, but Liverpool and Arsenal have No9 problems. Darwin Nunez has not scored for Liverpool since November 1, an 11-match drought, while Gabriel Jesus has netted just three times in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool have fired in 25 goals since Nunez last did so, while the hard-working Jesus contributes so much more than goals, so their profligacy is hardly an existential crisis. But can a team really win the title without a clinical No 9?
There were many factors that led to Manchester City storming to the Treble last season, from John Stones’s hybrid role to the form of captain Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne, but the chief reason for their success was undoubtedly Erling Haaland’s goals. All 52 of them.
Media and fans have overreacted to City slumps in form at this time of each of the past three seasons, with Pep Guardiola’s men romping home to a trio of titles in the second half of those campaigns. But though they have the muscle memory for winning, things feel different this time.
That leaves an opening for one of Liverpool or Arsenal, who meet at Anfield on Saturday knowing that a win would put either side top of the tree at Christmas. Both teams have, at times, looked like formidable units that could storm to a title triumph. And no, Aston Villa, we haven’t forgotten you.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has failed to score in his last 11 matches in all competitions
Goals have also been hard to come by for Gabriel Jesus who has just three in the league this season
Winning in the last minute, as both Liverpool and Arsenal have done more than once, could be dressed up as a trait of champions’ mentality, and it is true that you earn your luck in football. But over the course of a season, will that luck of scoring late goals run out for these sides?
City have also been wasteful in front of goal at times, but Haaland’s 14 goals — leading the charge for another Golden Boot — speaks volumes compared to Nunez’s tally of four and three for Jesus, albeit the latter has spent time out with a knee injury.
None of this is a criticism of either. As Jesus will recall from his time in Manchester, teams have won the title without a traditional No9 — he played largely on the wing in his last season at City as they operated with a ‘false nine’.
Nunez is crucial to Jurgen Klopp’s side, showcased by his creative skills in a 5-1 win over West Ham on Wednesday. He also never stops running and is a fan favourite among Kopites, with his name often cheered the loudest as starting XIs are read out.
Jesus, likewise, is one of the most gifted footballers in the Premier League. The Brazilian has excellent close control, rarely loses possession, makes intelligent, progressive passes and is perhaps the best in the league at operating in tight areas.
Despite his lack of goals, Nunez is a key player for the Reds as he creates chances for others
Gabriel Jesus has said scoring is ‘not my strongest suit’ but he did net last weekend, and he makes the team play better as well
‘Scoring is not my strongest suit,’ said Jesus when on international duty with Brazil last month. It is a bonkers thing for a striker to go on record with, though we can perhaps let him off due to the all-round brilliance that he brings to his teams.
But it is no secret that Arsenal want a new man to lead the line, with Mikel Arteta’s men holding a long-standing interest in Ivan Toney. While a January move for the Brentford star is unlikely, just imagine how much the England international would bolster the Gunners’ chances of a title tilt.
Nunez, meanwhile, does not have the all-round game of Jesus and is more of a traditional striker. It is difficult to recall a more baffling forward than the Uruguayan who, at times, looks worth every penny of the £85million fee but, at others, looks out of his depth.
‘Darwin is full of desire, you see that in each game,’ said assistant manager Pep Lijnders this week. ‘And if we would only judge players on the goals, that would be so unfair. And I feel, above everything, Darwin is playing a much better season than last year.’
He is right. Cody Gakpo was favoured for much of the second half of last season, as a false nine, due to being superior to Nunez in the defensive and pressing side of the game. Klopp and Lijnders often talk about ‘defending the centre’, which Nunez has now improved upon.
The 24-year-old has doubled his intake of English classes this season, now taking two 40-minute sessions a week, and that has led to an improvement in his understanding with team-mates, especially an ever-growing partnership with Mohamed Salah.
Cody Gakpo could get the nod over Nunez on Saturday but Nunez could still make an impact off the bench
Nunez will also have a key role to play when Mohamed Salah head to AFCON next month
Lijnders has worked with the striker on the mental side of his game, so he does not get too weighed down when he misses chances, with fellow Latin American Alexis Mac Allister also said to give instructions to Nunez.
He is clearly a striker improving despite his recent goal drought. Next month will be crucial, though, with 11-goal Salah — seven more than Nunez — soon jetting off to the Ivory Coast for the African Cup of Nations to play for Egypt.
Salah and Japan captain Wataru Endo will be available to play in the New Year’s Day clash with Newcastle but then will go to AFCON and the Asia Cup respectively. Salah could miss eight games (including a potential FA Cup fourth round) if Egypt get to the final on February 11.
With no Liverpool player close to Salah’s tally of 11 this season — Diogo Jota is also on four — it really is time for the Uruguayan to find a lethal touch. He has squandered several golden chances although he has also had some bad luck, hitting the woodwork a league-high five times.
In a potentially worrying sign for Nunez, though, he was left on the pitch for a full 90 minutes in Wednesday’s win over West Ham, with Gakpo being substituted towards the end. That would hint that Gakpo, who played at No9 with Nunez out wide, could get the nod against Arsenal.
There will be changes, of course, with Liverpool training for a total of 135 minutes since their Europa League trip to Belgium nine days ago. That is due to fixture pile-up and there have been just four sessions — one 30-minute and the others 35 minutes.
Eddie Nketiah has more league goals than Jesus, but Arsenal miss the Brazilian’s creativity when he doesn’t play
As for Jesus, there was a feeling last season that his impact on the team — in terms of pressing, link-up play, joining up the midfield and attack, title-winning mentality, plus leadership — was huge even without the goals and that the team was worse off when he was out injured.
Fellow striker Eddie Nketiah has been more ruthless in front of goal, with five goals this season, but Arsenal clearly miss the inventiveness and creativity of Jesus when he is not in the team. And Mikel Arteta’s side can get goals from other areas, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz among those chipping in.
In fact, Arsenal have had 13 different players score league goals this term, with Liverpool just behind on 12. So can either of these teams win the title with the aforementioned No9 problems?
Yes, of course they can, but the goals of Nunez or Jesus — if they find them — could tilt it in their club’s favour.
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