Liverpool hero Robbie Fowler heaped more misery on Darwin Nunez after claiming that the £85million man could “learn” a thing or two from 18-year-old Jayden Danns.
Nunez was given the entire 90 minutes against League Two minnows but could not hit the back of the net, spurning a number of chances and snatching at efforts with regularity to cut a frustrating figure.
Meanwhile, teenager Danns was one of several youngsters who had a morale-boosting afternoon. Rio Ngumoha made his debut as the club’s youngest-ever starter, while the likes of Trey Nyoni, Tyler Morton and James McConnell all had encouraging performances.
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Danns got the third goal of the game, winning the ball back on the halfway line before laying it out wide to Federico Chiesa, he then followed up when the Italian’s shot was parried and blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
And his performance earned a rave review from Fowler, who claimed that Nunez could benefit from looking closely at his teenage understudy.
“That’s what we like about him (Danns) as a young kid,” Fowler told ITV. “His attitude is brilliant, I think he has got a little bit of everything in his armoury.
“He wins the ball (back), passes forward and what I love about him - and I think Nunez can learn something off this - he wants to get back into the box. Whereas sometimes Nunez will get it and he will play a ball and then sort of hang back.
“But Jayden Danns, he wins the ball and he has got an incredible appetite and desire to get in the box after he has passed the ball because he knows something might happen, the ball might come back to you.
“And sure it does and he finishes it one-touch into the Kop end for the third Liverpool goal.”
Karen Carney then added: “That’s the standard, you see them all out there for different reasons, whether it’s fitness or like Jayden it’s an opportunity. They are all hungry, this is Liverpool football club, when you have got an opportunity - take it.”
??????️ "I think Nunez can learn something from this"
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 11, 2025
Robbie Fowler on what Darwin Nunez can learn from Jayden Danns#ITVFootball | #FACup | @Robbie9Fowler | #LFC pic.twitter.com/xzzwXQTaeW
Danns has now scored three goals for Liverpool, all off the bench, as he continues to stake his claim for a place in Arne Slot’s match squad going forward.
And the Dutch boss agreed with Fowler by picking out Danns’ mentality as a reason to be impressed with the youngster, who is pushing Nunez this season.
"Another academy player that the academy can be proud of,” Slot told Match of the Day. "Not only the quality it's the mentality he has.
"Whenever we need him he always gives his best and that's something what Liverpool players are known for."
