Liverpool Football Club has made an exciting announcement regarding their squad for the upcoming 2023-24 season. Darwin Nunez, the talented striker who joined the team from Benfica last year, will now proudly wear the prestigious number nine shirt. This is a significant change, as the previous wearer of the renowned jersey, Roberto Firmino, has bid farewell to Liverpool and moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.
Upon his arrival, Nunez was assigned the number 27 shirt. However, with Firmino’s departure, the Uruguayan player will now take on the responsibility of leading Liverpool’s front line as the number nine. The club has also confirmed that fans who had already purchased a Nunez shirt with the number 27 on it will be personally reimbursed by Nunez himself, receiving a new jersey with the number nine. This mirrors the gesture made by Luis Diaz when he switched to the number seven shirt.
Nunez is not new to wearing the number nine jersey. During his time at Benfica, he sported the ‘9’ on his back, and he previously donned the same number for Uruguay’s Under-20s before switching to the ’11’ at the senior level. Now, following in the footsteps of football legends such as Ian Rush, Fernando Torres, and Robbie Fowler, Nunez joins the elite group of players who have proudly worn the number nine shirt for Liverpool.
While some notable forwards like Andy Carroll, Christian Benteke, Rickie Lambert, and Iago Aspas have also worn the revered jersey in the past, Nunez aims to make his mark and create his own legacy as Liverpool’s number nine. His debut season with the team was a mix of highs and lows, scoring 15 goals and providing four assists in 42 games across various tournaments.
The decision to assign Nunez the number nine shirt demonstrates Liverpool’s faith in his abilities and potential to make a significant impact on the team’s performance. Fans eagerly anticipate seeing Nunez lead the line and continue the legacy of great strikers who have worn the iconic number nine shirt for Liverpool.