Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Urges Nunez to Step Up and Prove Himself
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has challenged Darwin Nunez to find consistency and live up to the hype surrounding him, ahead of their Champions League clash against Lille.
Arne Slot is hopeful Diogo Jota and Joe Gomez will return to his squad in a matter of "weeks rather than months" with the pair ruled out for the immediate future 💬
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 20, 2025
The injury to Jota, which is expected to keep him out for a few weeks, was sustained during Liverpool's draw against Nottingham Forest on January 14th. Slot revealed the news on Monday, and with Jota's absence, the spotlight shifts to Nunez, who has struggled to impress both Slot and his predecessor Jurgen Klopp since joining the club from Benfica in 2022.
Nunez will have the chance to rise to Slot's challenge when Liverpool hosts Lille in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday. The Uruguayan striker has faced criticism and pressure to deliver, but with Jota's injury, he has been handed a fresh opportunity to prove his worth and demonstrate that he can be a reliable and clinical goal-scorer for Liverpool.
Darwin Nunez's stoppage-time double in Liverpool's 2-0 win at Brentford on Saturday showcased his potency, but his goal-scoring record this season has been modest. The Uruguayan has scored only six times in all competitions this term, with his last top-flight goals coming in November.
According to Zwolle manager Arne Slot, who has been observing Nunez's situation, “I don't think it's the first time Darwin has been in this situation when Jota has been out.” However, Slot believes Nunez's recent goals could be a turning point. “But he is in a good place because he scored two against Brentford. We have four strikers who are fit to start and Darwin is one of them. Of course, it increases the chance for Darwin to get more playing time if one is injured and especially if it's a number nine.”
Take a look at our latest photo gallery from the AXA Training Centre 📍📸
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 20, 2025
Slot, who has experience working with talented players, has acknowledged the challenges of getting the best out of Nunez, who was hailed as one of the world's brightest young talents during his time at Benfica. Despite this, Nunez's recent performance has provided a glimmer of hope for his future prospects.
A Nice Challenge for Nunez
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has urged Darwin Nunez to show consistency and prove himself worthy of the hype surrounding him. “The most difficult in football is to find consistency, as a team and an individual,” Slot said. “Only a few players are able to be at the same level every few days. Then there is a big group of players who can play well but not every time. He is in that group. We have one or two who are in the group of the highest standard. That is a nice challenge for him.”
With Liverpool on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League last 16, Slot's team can book their place with a draw against Lille. The Reds have been impressive in the league phase, winning all six matches and sitting three points clear at the top of the table. Their domestic form has also been strong, with Liverpool six points clear at the top of the Premier League. However, Slot remains grounded, saying, “I think it's far too early to say these things. The Champions League format is different. We have to face a lot of teams. Can we judge the league table in the Champions League? Very difficult. But it's always nice to get compliments.”
Slot also played down the significance of finishing top of the league phase, suggesting it does not guarantee an easy last-16 opponent. “With this strange new format, I'm not thinking (about) the league table in a way that if you finish number one you get the easiest team,” he said. “Paris Saint-Germain is low down but has faced maybe the hardest team in each of their games. Maybe if you end number one you can face them.”
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