Arne Slot sends Darwin Nunez message that will trigger Liverpool star main concern

Arne Slot has suggested Darwin Nunez isn’t cut out to be Liverpool’s No. 9, even with Diogo Jota sidelined due to injury.

Jota has been Slot’s go-to guy for the central striker spot in his 4-3-3 setup throughout the season’s early stages. However, after sustaining an injury in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea, Jota is now out of action.

This seemed like the perfect chance for Nunez, who led the line in the 2-2 stalemate with Arsenal on Sunday, but Slot has raised questions about his fit for the position ahead of the Reds’ Carabao Cup clash against Brighton on Wednesday night. “It is a pity that Jota is not available,” Slot remarked.

“And [Federico] Chiesa is also not available as they were, in my opinion, the most logical No .9s, but we still have other options.”

Since arriving from Benfica in June 2022 for a hefty £85million, Nunez has been versatile for Liverpool, playing both centrally and off the left wing. He’s racked up 35 goals and 19 assists in 106 appearances across all competitions, yet there’s still a cloud of uncertainty over his exact role in the squad, reports the Mirror.

Slot praised Darwin’s commitment, saying: “I think about Darwin, I gave him credit for the fact he worked so hard in previous weeks when he didn’t play a lot to be able to play three games in a row.

“I think three games in eight days, so that says a lot about him – but it also says a lot about the quality of our performance staff and medical staff that we were able to give him the right sessions to prepare him in the right way.

“You always need the player to buy in because you can give him the right sessions, but if he doesn’t give everything then it is very difficult for him to do what he did.

“Also with him it was a good thing his ban for the Uruguay team was cancelled so he could play two games there, that probably helped for him to play the way he did – and I am not talking about the quality he played with, but the intensity he played with.”

Slot also dished out some glowing praise before the Arsenal game, highlighting Nunez’s growing season with Liverpool, especially after scoring the winner against RB Leipzig in the Champions League last week.

“He scored a goal, which was vital, but his work-rate was also really good and he’s not played that many games with us.

“So with him there is, like the others, room for improvement in co-operation with some of the other players, but that’s normal. He’s very good and it’s pleasing to see that after a difficult start.”