Darwin Nunez's evolution a major boost for Liverpool as they face leaders Manchester City

Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, walked into the club’s canteen the other day and found himself grinning at the convivial scene. Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Alisson were all in conversation.

“Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil,” Klopp thought to himself, and, out loud, asked: “What’s the biggest newspaper in South America?” He reckoned it would make good use of a photo of the amiable grouping.

The same quartet flew back to England together from World Cup duty earlier this week with stories to share ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League summit meeting with Manchester City.

Emotional ones from Diaz, whose father was released from a terrifying kidnap ordeal in time to see his son put two goals past Alisson in Colombia’s 2-1 win over Brazil.

Four days later Mac Allister was part of the Argentina team who inflicted on Brazil a first ever home defeat in World Cup qualifying.

But perhaps the most fulfilled of Liverpool’s Latin Americans is Nunez, driver of Uruguay’s excellent momentum, twice on the scoresheet in Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Bolivia having registered goals against each of Colombia, Argentina and Brazil in his previous outings, including wins over Argentina, the world champions, and Brazil. It’s form unprecedented in his international career and mirrors his growing impact for his club.

In effect, Nunez, signed in 2022 from Benfica for a fee that could rise close to €100 million, has been doubly promoted in the last five months. In the summer, he inherited the number nine jersey at Anfield from the departed and popular Roberto Firmino. In September, he saw a similar elevation in his status for the national team.

Uruguay appointed a new manager, the celebrated Marcelo Bielsa earlier this