Michael Owen has analysed Rasmus Hojlund and Darwin Nunez’s goals from over the weekend, with the former proving to be ‘much more’ efficient in his decision-making.
The Manchester United starlet added to his tally within 40 seconds of Sunday’s gritty clash at Kenilworth Road and in doing so, became the youngest-ever player to score in six consecutive Premier League matches. It then took him just six minutes to complete his brace when he cleverly adjusted his body to send Alejandro Garnacho’s wayward shot on target – with his chest – and into the back of the net.
Meanwhile, league leaders Liverpool cruised to a 4-1 win away to Brentford after Nunez broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with an audacious chip which, thankfully for him, worked out exactly as he’d intended.
Hojlund, 21, endured a slow start to life in England and was made to wait 14 matches before opening his account in the top flight. Now though, his confidence is through the roof and he’s looking so clinical that every time he gets on the ball in a dangerous area, fans are expecting to see the net ripple.
Nunez, on the other hand, frequently divides opinions with his significant amount of squandered chances per game. Against Chelsea last month, he also etched his name into the Premier League history books by becoming the first player to hit the woodwork four times in a single outing. He even tops the charts for hitting the post/bar this term after doing so nine times, six more than second-placed Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Owen’s analysis
Reflecting on the young forwards’ strikes in matchweek 25, Owen, who has represented both sides of the rivalry between the clubs, told Premier League Productions: “It’s very similar [the build-ups to both goals]. A long punt or clearance, just like the Liverpool goal. Exactly the same position now. Everything is the same, isn’t it?!
“What does he [Hojlund] do? In fact, it’s probably easier to chip the goalkeeper from here [in comparison to Nunez’s]. He has got another four or five yards to get the ball up and down, so it’s the easier finish but still not the right finish.
“But what does he do? Much more efficiently, he goes around the goalkeeper, that’s what I am saying. That finish, whether you like slotting, dinking or going around like that. In the long term, you are going to score far more goals doing the right percentage finish each time and that’s what Hojlund has just done.
“There are no rights or wrongs in finishing in many ways. Apart from the Nunez one, it’s just wrong in many ways. You just can’t do that and score big numbers. It’s just incredible.”
