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Darwin Nunez broke Premier League record that stood for over 20 years in Liverpool vs Chelsea

During Wednesday evening’s 4-1 victory over Chelsea, Liverpool’s standout player Darwin Nunez achieved a milestone in Premier League history.

The Uruguayan forward secured his 11th assist of the season across all competitions as Luis Diaz successfully converted his precise low cross into the bottom corner.

With 11 goals to his credit, Nunez is enjoying an impressive and potentially underrated season for the Reds.

In his second season at the club, his all-round play, direct running, and physical prowess highlight why Liverpool invested a club-record £85 million to acquire him from Benfica in the summer of 2022.

Despite not scoring against Chelsea, Nunez showcased his skills in nearly every aspect of the game.

During the first half, the 23-year-old seized a Liverpool penalty following Diogo Jota’s foul by Benoit Badashile in the area.

Unfortunately, his attempt struck the left post, and Chelsea cleared the ball, leaving the forward frustrated with his luck once more.

Adding to Nunez’s woes, he subsequently struck the crossbar and post three more times during the match, without managing to score.

OptaJoe has officially verified that the forward has established a Premier League record, being the inaugural player to strike the woodwork four times in a single match since records commenced in the 2003/04 season.

Following suit, Cristiano Ronaldo is the second player to encounter this unfortunate feat, having hit the woodwork three times in a match for Manchester United against Newcastle in October 2006.

The pioneer in achieving this milestone was Bolton legend Jay-Jay Okocha, who also struck the woodwork three times against Tottenham in November 2003.

Leandro Trossard and Timo Werner have matched that statistic, but Nunez has now surpassed it.

Unfortunately for Nunez, he has struck the woodwork nine times in all Premier League matches this season, three more than the second-placed group of players, including Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, and Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke.

Despite this, given Nunez’s crucial role in Liverpool’s side this season, it’s a stat that may not overly concern manager Jurgen Klopp, even if it might be a source of frustration for the player in his pursuit of this season’s Golden Boot.

   
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