Djibril Cisse advises Darwin Nunez, talks potential Bellingham and Mbappe moves, reveals Reds’ strongest front three & slams Chelsea’s style

In the second part of an exclusive interview with Ladbrokes: Fanzone, former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse talked about his top three Reds strikers, Jude Bellingham, Chelsea and Arsenal’s title chances, but he started with a piece of advice for Darwin Nunez.

Click on the link for part one in which he discussed the Miracle of Istanbul in 2005.

My advice for Darwin Nunez if he wants to succeed at Liverpool

I was in a similar situation to Darwin Nunez when I joined Liverpool. I was banging in goals all over the place in France, but when you come to a new team, particularly in the Premier League, expectation is high – especially when you come for a big fee. It’s not the same football that you’re used to playing, and sometimes you just need a bit of time to adapt, to gel with your team-mates and get used to the atmosphere in this country.

Nunez is a great player. We saw last season that he can score goals for fun, and there’s no way he’s lost that in a year. We need to be more patient with him, but I know those fans – they want goals, and they want them now; they don’t want to wait!

He’ll gain more and more confidence with every goal he scores, and I think he’s capable of getting many more between now and the end of the season.

LIVERPOOL HAVE LIFT-OFF! 💥

That is just cheeky from Darwin Núñez! 👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/spapaQcfbZ

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 21, 2023

I scored on my debut, and actually had a really good start to my Liverpool career before my injury. I was happy with my game to goal ratio before I broke my leg. And when I returned, while I didn’t score that many, I did score important ones, in finals and in derbies. I know I could have done way better, and as a number nine there’s always going to be a period where the ball just doesn’t seem to want to go in for you. But what’s important is how you manage to deal with that, and how you react when you miss a clear chance. Do you give up or carry on? Mentally, you have to be strong. It’s not easy scoring goals at this level.

I was the kind of player who never gave up. I always knew the goals would come, and I think Nunez is the same. I actually think he deserves a lot of credit for his mentality so far, because when you look at how his Liverpool career started, with that red card and suspension, to where he is today, I can already see a different player in there.

Things in this division are so much more intense, and that all comes with the process of learning the division. Defenders are harder on you, and you’ll be tested mentally, and should not overreact. It’s something I was guilty of myself on occasions, and Nunez has been too. But since that red card, I think he’s come back with a different mindset.

You have to give credit to him, he’s a fighter and he’s trying. If he’s not scoring, he’s creating, and if he’s missing chances, he carries on. That’s the kind of player I like – he really reminds me of Edinson Cavani in that respect.

When all of Liverpool’s forwards are fit, here’s their strongest three

I really like Roberto Firmino and what he still has to offer this Liverpool side. But if you’re asking me for Liverpool’s strongest front three, when all of their players are fit, for me Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez are straight in there. I’m confident we’re going to see a lot more from Nunez in the near future, especially on the goalscoring front, but him and Mo are already forming a nice relationship, for me.

And then alongside them, I think I’d go with Diogo Jota. He can create so much, he’s a great passer, and I really think he can get the best out of Salah and Nunez. If all of Liverpool’s forwards are fit, Jota, Nunez and Salah are the ones I’d be starting.

As for Mo Salah’s future, I think it’s very much up to him. It looks like he loves the club, he loves the fans and I really don’t want to see him leave. A lot might depend on where Liverpool finish this season, and what Jurgen Klopp does next. If Klopp stays, I’d expect Salah to stay with him.

Bellingham to Liverpool and how Mbappe’s mother holds the key to his next move

I think Jude Bellingham is a top-class player, already at such a young age. Liverpool have to go for him as their top, top priority. They need to grab this guy now, because he really is something special. He wants to come to the Premier League, and Liverpool is such an attractive club for him. He’s really close with Hendo [Jordan Henderson], which might just help.

Playing European football with Liverpool, inside one of the best stadiums, with some of the best supporters in world football… I think it would be the right decision for him. He’d come in as the number one guy, just like Steven Gerrard was. It would be great fun for everyone associated with Liverpool.

I really, really want to see Kylian Mbappe at Liverpool. I would love to see him at Anfield. In this team, he’d cause so much damage. I know that his mother loves Liverpool, but the boy loves Real Madrid – so who knows where he will end up. But I want to dream about seeing him at Liverpool… and they say mothers are never usually wrong, so maybe we’ll see him in a Liverpool shirt soon!

I don’t think Chelsea play football the right way

I really like Graham Potter, already in his career he’s done a lot of good things. But I don’t see any improvement from Chelsea so far, and they’re now in a really difficult position in the league. They’re playing really poorly right now, and it shows to the world that money isn’t everything. You can’t just sign a handful of players and expect to be champions – these projects take time. That team has to find a togetherness, be strong and fight for each other. You can’t just throw down money and say “go and be champions”. That’s not how it works.

I’m sad, because it’s a great club with a lot of history that you have to respect. But the way they want to play football, I don’t think is the right way. You can’t just do everything with money.

Arsenal acting like champions, but Gabriel Jesus’ return key to race

I still think Manchester City win the title. They have the experience. They’re used to being in this kind of situation, and Arsenal aren’t. It’s been a long time since Arsenal have been in this position, to have felt this sort of pressure, and it’s not an easy place to be. Man City know how to deal with it. Pep Guardiola knows what to do because he’s lived this situation so many times before.

That being said, Arsenal’s response to losing against Manchester City is exactly what champions do, They found a way to win their next game, a tough one at Aston Villa, with late goals. You’re allowed to have a bad day, to have a bad game and to lose. But what is important, and what you’re judged on, is what you do next. What Arsenal did, and how they responded to defeat, was incredible. It tells me they’re ready for a title race, and they’re not going to give up that easy.

I miss you ❤️⚽️😅 pic.twitter.com/fbPWrrBd99

— Gabriel Jesus (@gabrieljesus9) January 16, 2023

It’s going to be really hard for Man City to keep up with Arsenal – they’re acting like a team of champions right now. But there’s still a long, long way to go, and I think City have more about them to be champions at the end of the season.

Gabriel Jesus’ return is going to be massive, though. He’s the kind of player you need in your team. Even when he’s not playing, he’s a proven winner. He has that experience which so many players are lacking, and so I imagine he’s a key figure in that dressing room. And then, when he’s back on the pitch, we know he can score goals, and we’ve already seen at Arsenal just how much more he brings to the team. He’s a match-winner. This kind of player adds so much value to your team, especially in a title race.