Peterborough chairman and Liverpool fan Darragh MacAnthony claims Liverpool should have looked towards Brentford’s Ivan Toney forward instead of Darwin Nunez this summer.
The Reds signed Nunez for a whopping £85M earlier this summer and it’s safe to say his start on Merseyside has been a mixed bag.
Whilst he has been there since before the pre-season began, the red card suffered against Crystal Palace has meant his opening few games as a Liverpool player have been somewhat distorted so far.
Given their poor start to the season, the pressure has ramped up on the player even despite it only being early September. Whilst down in London, Toney has made a great start to this season proving he could easily be at a top club – but should that club have been Liverpool?
🔥 Only Neymar (13), Erling Haaland (11) and Leo Messi (9) have played a direct hand in more goals than Ivan Toney (7) in Europe's top 5 leagues this season
😎 In good company pic.twitter.com/flqqIqpIq1
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 6, 2022
Darragh MacAnthony’s comments on Toney and Nunez
The Peterborough chairman is a big Liverpool fan and discussed whether Nunez was indeed the right option for Liverpool, when Toney was a ready-made replacement.
“Let me ask you the next question. Darwin Nunez, £85 million, 23, Ivan Toney, 26. Who is the better number nine? Nunez might have a hell of a career, he might do really well for Liverpool, Liverpool like to be direct – let’s not joke Liverpool are a direct football team, all of our goals come from full-backs and crosses.
“We are a little direct and it suits us, there’s nothing wrong with that. You’re telling me an Ivan Toney in Liverpool’s team wouldn’t score 25 goals with those full-backs delivering. Come off it!”
He was the man who sold Toney to Brentford and even back in 2021, he was backing the 26-year-old to make the move to Anfield.
ROCKET!!! 🚀 Ivan Toney's freekick was the pick of the bunch in a brilliant Brentford performance on Saturday 👏
Should the forward be on the plane to the World Cup? 🛫 pic.twitter.com/AByc6Rc6tI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 6, 2022
Toney’s terrific start this season
At the current time, only Erling Haaland has more goal contributions in the Premier League than Toney.
His five goals and two assists included a hattrick against Leeds which saw him bag a trademark penalty, a powerfully placed free-kick and an audacious chip from distance.
He’s even battled his way into England contention – with many feeling that he deserves the call-up as he looks to battle it out with the likes of Tammy Abraham, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Callum Wilson for the number two striking spot.
To play Devil’s advocate, his ability in the air, link-up play and set-piece abilities would have been perfect at Liverpool – especially given the delivery from out wide. It’s very likely he will be at a top club within the next two seasons, but will Liverpool pay the price for not signing him? Only time will tell.
