Darwin Nunez is finally proving why he is the most expensive purchase in Liverpool's history

The 100 million - 75 million fixed and 25 million variable - agreed with Benfica could make Darwin Nunez  the most expensive signing in Liverpool's history. However, the former Almeria man's first season at Anfield was full of 'up & downs'. He got off to a great start - he scored the 3-1 winner in the Community Shield win over City - but went from strength to strength. His 15 goals - nine in the Premier League - and four assists in 42 games have a 'B' side to them: of the last nine league games he played, he started only three and was substituted in all three.

A hard blow for a striker who, throughout his career, has already had to overcome several crises of confidence. This season, already with the '9' on his back, he started as a substitute. In the first two league games he only played 28 minutes, but with his brace in the comeback against Newcastle (1-2), in just 13 minutes, he managed to turn the situation around. "The game against Newcastle would change any player's life. He scored two goals out of nothing and that gave him the confidence he needed. He's a different player now. He also speaks better English and that helps," says Pep Lijnders, Klopp's assistant.

From then on, he provided an assist in the 3-0 win over Aston Villa as a starter, scored and assisted in the 3-1 win over LASK Linz in the Europa League, and last weekend he scored another stunning goal in the 3-1 win over West Ham. In total, the Uruguay international has four goals and two assists in seven games. His scoring ratio - 1.24 goals per 90 minutes - is the fourth best in the Premiership. 

Darwin's growth 

He is only surpassed by Evan Ferguson (1.40), Callum Wilson (1.39) and Erling Haaland (1.36). He is also the player who averages the most shots (5.65) in the Premiership per 90 minutes. There is an even more brutal statistic in 'Liverpool key'. Darwin, since he signed for the Reds, has scored every 141'. He practically matches the times of 'Mo' Salah (134') and Luis Suarez (138'). "He's a threat. He's in a great moment and you can see it in training. A striker, even if he doesn't score, needs to play well and, for us, it's very important to have a player who can receive and hold the ball," Klopp acknowledged.