Darwin Nunez has recently been a big topic of discussion in Liverpool.
The Uruguayan striker has been a fan favourite since his arrival in 2022, however, the 25-year-old’s performances have often left supoorters of the Reds frustrated.
Nunez tends to run offside often, has poor decision-making in the box and can miss easy chances, such as the opportunity at Aston Villa.
The Uruguay international has incredible physical attributes and if he can sharpen his other skills, the forward could become one of the best.
This season has not gone to plan for the 25-year-old and his attitude has portrayed this. It is an element of the Nunez’s game that Arne Slot has not been happy with and the Dutch coach has made it publicly known.
Arne Slot ‘can’t accept’ the attitude of Darwin Nunez
Following the Aston Villa clash, Nunez was an unused substitute for Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday.
Slot has since told the press that this was a result of his attitude against Wolves and Aston Villa as the Dutch coach could not accept it happening twice from the striker.
“I helped him by saying you can miss a chance,” Slot stated via The Independent. “I wasn’t only hard on him. But for the second time in a row, I wasn’t happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.
“I always try to be honest with my players and be honest as I can to you guys [the media] as well where I always try to protect my players so I don’t say he never worked hard.
“I know him differently. I know him at Villa at home where he made a 100m sprint and scored a goal, I know him when he came on at City at home and was pressing really aggressively and wins the ball back and we score.
“But I can’t accept if a player doesn’t give everything. That is clear. I can accept it once but twice was a bit too much. That’s why I addressed it.”
Slot is working with Nunez at Liverpool behind closed doors but the results have not been visible in recent weeks.
Wataru Endo is a player Slot wants Nunez to learn from but it seems that this is a case of the striker being destined to leave at the end of the season.
Jurgen Klopp had a lot of faith in Nunez, hence why he brought him to Anfield, but the German coach may have got this one wrong.
Jurgen Klopp was wrong about Darwin Nunez
Klopp witnessed Nunez up close when Liverpool played Benfica during their 2021/22 Champions League campaign and the German coach became a fan after witnessing the striker score against his team.
After bringing him to Anfield, Klopp showed a lot of faith in the 25-year-old and showered him with praise after his performance against Brentford last season.
“Look at him how he kept the ball for us, who would of thought that last year?” Klopp said via the Daily Mail. “That he could do that for us!
“Standout was Darwin because Brentford wanted long balls so he started the pressing. Work-rate was insane.”
| Liverpool season stats | Games | Goals | Assists |
| 2024/25 | 35 | 6 | 5 |
| 2023/24 | 54 | 18 | 13 |
| 2022/23 | 42 | 15 | 4 |
Saudi Arabia showed strong interest in Nunez during the January transfer window and that will likely remain this summer.
Should another bid arrive for the striker, Liverpool are likely to accept it, which would make Nunez one of very few players to let Klopp down.
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