Liverpool will be hoping to see a significant development from Darwin Nunez in his third season at Anfield.
Few players will have more to prove at Liverpool next season than Darwin Nunez.
Nunez cannot afford another season of squandered opportunities and dubious decision-making at Anfield, where he has yet to establish himself as a trustworthy team member.
One key issue the Uruguay international must address is his tendency to drift into offside areas, a terrible habit that has hampered countless great attacking possibilities.
Last season, Nunez was caught offside 33 times more than any other Premier League player, with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson next on 28. Things weren’t much better in this department during the Reds’ No.9’s debut season, as he was flagged 17 times, the 11th most of any English top-flight star in 2022/23.
The fact that the Premier League will implement semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) beginning next season adds to the 24-year-old’s difficulties in this regard. This method will replace the present format of footage being examined by officials in Stockley Park, instead providing instant verdicts.
Serie A was the first European division to adopt SAOT, and Mexico soon followed suit, applying same strategy to their league. The next leagues to implement this adjustment will be La Liga and the Premier League, which could be bad news for Nunez.
The former Benfica forward may not benefit from this format because attackers are currently given the benefit of the doubt due to defects in the process that affect accuracy and consistency, which will be eliminated with the reformed technology. As a result, more goals are expected to be disallowed in 2024/25, with marginal calls involving a player’s armpit or toenail becoming more likely to favour the defending club.
Ten unique cameras will be put under the roofs of the 20 Premier League League facilities, ensuring optimal tracking for every player on the pitch. 29 data points will be recorded on all limbs and extremities crucial to an offside judgment, including the upper arm, toes, knees, and head, guaranteeing that the system knows a player’s exact position at any given time. AI will process all data in real time and tell the VAR when an offside is found. This must then be confirmed by VAR before the referee is informed if the proper call was made.
The Premier League has previously announced that the technology will be introduced in 2024/25, but will not be available for the start of the season. The Premier League addressed this issue in a statement earlier this year, saying: “The new system will be used for the first time in the Premier League next season, and it is anticipated that the technology will be ready to be introduced after one of the Autumn international breaks.”
“The technology will provide quicker and consistent placement of the virtual offside line, based on optical player tracking, and will produce high-quality broadcast graphics to ensure an enhanced in-stadium and broadcast experience for supporters.”
Nunez will face yet another challenge in his attempt to entirely win over the fan base. The margin for error has just been limited, both in terms of run timing and in his Liverpool career.
