Arne Slot insisted Darwin Nunez continues to be an essential a part of Liverpool’s plans regardless of the struggling striker falling under the “customary” within the Champions League win towards Girona.
Mired in a prolonged hunch, Nunez has scored just one aim in his final 10 appearances and three in complete all season.
In Liverpool’s victory in Girona on Tuesday, the Uruguay worldwide reduce an more and more pissed off determine after lacking a number of probabilities.
Slot admitted he stored Nunez on for an prolonged interval, earlier than finally changing him within the 71st minute, within the hope he would rating a confidence-boosting aim.
After receiving criticism in midweek, Nunez posted on Instagram: “They aren’t all, they’re some. Thanks Reds on your assist, we’re all nonetheless collectively.”
Slot believes the 25-year-old wants the assist of followers and his team-mates to assist him rediscover the shape that made him such a sensation at Benfica previous to his transfer to Anfield in 2022.
“All our gamers really feel the assist of our followers however he’s undoubtedly one in every of them. Mo (Salah) is scoring so many targets he likes the assist of the followers however does not actually need it for the time being,” Slot instructed reporters on Friday.
“All of us noticed they did one thing with him when he missed a couple of probabilities on Tuesday and everybody wants an arm round you, both from a team-mate, the followers or your supervisor.
“However I additionally made it clear to him that he’s not solely judged on the targets he scores, he’s additionally judged on the workforce efficiency and he provides one thing to the workforce efficiency as effectively along with his work-rate and the way a lot he does profitable the ball again excessive up the pitch.”
– ‘Upset’ –
Slot’s solely challenge with Nunez was a dip in his work-rate towards Girona that drew a rebuke from the Reds boss.
“Ideally he would have scored a couple of targets extra. However what ought to at all times be there’s work-rate and I believe that’s what he has, other than two video games,” Slot mentioned.
I mentioned that to him yesterday and the final half-hour towards Girona wasn’t of the usual he ought to have.
“That had so much to do with him being dissatisfied at lacking a couple of probabilities.”
Nunez’s place will come below rising stress with Diogo Jota and long-term absentee Federico Chiesa set to return to the squad for the go to of Fulham on Saturday.
Chiesa has performed for simply 18 minutes within the Premier League since becoming a member of Liverpool from Juventus within the close-season.
The Italy ahead has solely three appearances in all competitions for the Reds, who sit 4 factors clear on the high of the Premier League as they chase a primary title since 2020.
“Federico missed rather a lot for a very long time, was unwell final week, so we now have to attend and see how he’s precisely doing,” Slot mentioned.
“However perhaps Diogo is within the squad and perhaps Federico as effectively, however that relies upon a bit on the numbers we now have and in addition how he recovered from his sickness.”
smg/bsp
