Pundit makes Liverpool team selection hint

Former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell expects Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez to be left out of the starting line-up for the Reds’ opening day clash against Fulham next Saturday.

The lowdown: Instant hit

The 23-year-old made his first competitive appearance for the Reds following a club-record £85m switch from Benfica in the 3-1 Community Shield triumph over Manchester City over the weekend.

The Uruguay international came off the bench in the second half to round off the scoring late on at the King Power Stadium shortly, having also won a penalty for Jurgen Klopp’s side, and he wasn’t involved in the makeshift team which lost 3-0 to Strasbourg on Sunday night.

Despite that remarkable debut, one pundit has suggested that Nunez may have to be content with a watching brief for the time being as the start of the Premier League season looms…

The latest: Campbell makes Nunez claim

Speaking to Football Insider, former Everton striker and regular talkSPORT contributor Campbell was asked whether the 11-cap Uruguayan would remain amongst the Liverpool substitutes for the trip to Fulham.

He responded: “You’d think so. I expected Nunez to be in the starting XI after scoring four goals the other week. At the end of the day, Nunez has to be the main striker for Liverpool this season.

“The charity shield is usually the test before the start of the season though. You put your first XI out and then you mix in some of the other players in the second half. I expected both teams to go strong.

“Although people tend to say it isn’t a trophy, it is, let me tell you that, if you win it, it goes on your honours list. It is a trophy. It is always a nice curtain raiser. The added bonus is beating your rivals at the start.”

The verdict: Firmino again v Fulham?

In place of Nunez, Roberto Firmino led the line on Saturday and was flanked by Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz, with the Brazilian replaced just before the hour mark in Leicester.

Although the obvious impact was made by the Uruguayan from the bench, it remains eminently possible that Firmino will be given the nod once again at Craven Cottage as Klopp continues to allow his new summer signing time to settle into life in England.

The 30-year-old has been an integral part of Klopp’s plans throughout the German’s reign at Anfield as he allows the manager to perfectly implement his favoured 4-3-3 formation whilst operating as a false nine, something Nunez that cannot offer in the same way at present.

Over the course of the season, however, it seems almost inevitable that the powerful Uruguayan – who was once dubbed a ‘sensational’ talent by Fox Sports reporter James Dodd – will move into a prominent position as a regular feature in the Reds’ starting XI, particularly given his record transfer fee and impressive pre-season form.