Darwin Nunez wins player of the year award.

Liverpool, according to Bill Shankly, exists to win championships. Even while we may disagree with this idea — for example, this writer enjoys cheering for the squad even when they aren’t one of the top two or three teams in the world and compete throughout the entire season — it is undeniably representative of the way the players at the club currently think.

Fans will differ on whether they believe that the club exists to win certain individual awards, but we do know that, for example, Mohamed Salah is very passionate about winning the top scorer award every year, and it is probable that his mindset is reflected in the rest of the team.

Given that Darwin Nez’s contribution to Benfica’s third-place finish in Portugal’s Liga Bwin was recognized today with the Player of the Season award, it is fantastic news that the club’s record signing has already contributed to his own personal prize collection.

With his fiercest rival for the award, Luis Daz, departing in the middle of the season, the Uruguayan, 23, was able to solidify his claim to be the best player in Portugal in 2021–2022. He had already received the Golden Boot and a spot on the team of the year, but the league had not yet given out their final award.

Expectations are high for the attacker entering his first season with the Reds given the record price tag, but he joins a team that is well-oiled and has done a great job creating high-quality opportunities for its strikers, earning four golden boots in the past five years. If Nez can find his place in the squad, there is every chance he will be challenging Salah for the award in 10 months.