Darwin Nunez may have looked on with envy when Wout Faes finished Friday night’s Liverpool vs. Leicester match.

Granted, the Foxes defender thought that Faes’ two goals went in the wrong net, but nonetheless, the 2-1 victory gave Jurgen Klopp’s team a chance to get within striking distance of the top four come 2023.

Although Faes scored with unintentional ease, Nunez continued to waste opportunities in front of goal, missing a hat trick of opportunities that would have given Liverpool a far more comfortable victory margin.

The 23-year-old’s best efforts came in the second half, when he missed a close-range shot and then blasted over the crossbar from a favorable position.

They bounced back from a few costly errors in the 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day and the 22 December Carabao Cup loss to Manchester City.

Speaking for Sky Sports, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher remarked, “On another night, Nunez could have had a hat-trick.”

“That’s what we said about Man City. That was what we said about Aston Villa.

“He’s a handful, but he needs to score goals to take the next step and become a world-class striker.”

Nunez will find it challenging to read the numbers.

Nunez leads all players in Europe’s top 10 leagues who have played 500 minutes or more this season in terms of shots per ninety minutes (6.0), although he is ranked 99th in terms of goals per ninety minutes (0.57).

In the Premier League this season, he has made 52 attempts on goal but has only scored five goals. Additionally, he has missed more great opportunities than any other player in the league (14) than any other player.

But it’s not for lack of effort that they struggle to score.

Nunez is the Premier League player with the most woodwork strikes (five), and it was his chipped attempt that struck the post against Leicester that resulted in Faes bundling in his second own goal of the match.

Before this match, Klopp compared Nunez’s goal-scoring difficulties to Robert Lewandowski’s early Borussia Dortmund days, before the Poland striker went on to become one of the most prolific forwards in international football. Following Friday’s victory, Klopp was all smiles.

“The performance tonight was outstanding,” Klopp said to Sky Sports.

“People focus on statistics and other things, but even if it was an own goal, the goal was still a significant improvement over previous encounters since he chipped the ball incredibly well.

“There were other excellent moments as well. In one move, he eliminated three players, then sent the ball to Mohamed Salah. It was very unique, and I’m very glad about that.”

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville is optimistic that Nunez will score goals quickly and that the £64 million Liverpool paid Benfica to acquire the Uruguayan last summer will be more than justified in a few years.

Neville stated, “He is a handful,” on Sky Sports. “He is exceptional if he scores the goals.

“In a year or two, I have a feeling he could be that elite striker.

“I think the more he plays in this league, the bigger and stronger he will get, and I think it will start to happen for him in front of goal.”