'One of the best No 9s in the world' - Luis Suarez hails Darwin Nunez as his Uruguay successor after Liverpool star's stunning two-goal display against Bolivia

The 24-year-old striker netted a brace in Uruguay's thumping 3-0 win over Bolivia in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday. Veteran forward Luis Suarez, who replaced Nunez in the 73rd minute of the match, singled out the Liverpool ace for praise after the game and hailed him as one of the best No.9s in the world.

Speaking to reporters after the match, the former Barcelona and Liverpool star said of Nunez, who could inherit his No.9 shirt in the future: "I have one of the best No 9s in the world ahead of me. We have to support him and enjoy him. Today I am in another role [than before] and I am happy to be here helping the group."

Former Benfica star Nunez joined the Reds in 2022 and in his maiden season he appeared in 42 matches across all competitions, scoring 15 goals. He is likely to better that total in 2023-24 as he has already scored seven goals in 17 matches, while also laying on six assists.

Liverpool fans will now hope that Nunez translates his form for Uruguay to club level. Jurgen Klopp's men are set to face off against Manchester City on Saturday in what promises to be a fascinating top-of-the-table clash.