“Nunez still in my plan” says Slot

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has reaffirmed his commitment to Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez despite slow starts this season.

Two years ago, Darwin Nunez broke the transfer record by joining Liverpool for £64 million. However, the striker hasn’t lived up to the enormous expectations set for him. Despite playing just 84 minutes this season, Nunez will still have the opportunity to show himself, according to Arne Slot.

Though he has shown glimpses of promise, his performances have not been steady. This has  raised doubts about his long-term stay with the team. Nunez, who was restricted to a rotating position under Jurgen Klopp, has also struggled to establish himself in the main squad during the Slot era.

Even though the striker has only managed to play for 84 minutes this season, the Dutch boss is not giving up on him. He (Ten Hag) has given supporters hope that he will ultimately have more opportunities to show his abilities.

When Slot was asked how Nunez could secure a starting berth, the manager replied: “He needs the same as all the others, work really hard and the goals will come. That’s what he did against [AC] Milan. He came in for the team and then as a result of that attackers have goals or assists.

“It happened with Cody [Gakpo] so if you play for a team like Liverpool you’ll get them [goals and assists]. For me, it’s the work you do without the ball.

“He will get his chance in the near future, we play a lot of games, and he is fitter and fitter and understands day by day what we want from him. But he’s in competition with Diogo [Jota] who has done well.”

Nunez has failed to score in the 2024–25 season. Many have attributed his problems to a lack of regular playing time, while others have questioned whether his playmaking philosophy meshes with Liverpool’s current setup. In his 20-minute cameo against AC Milan, he made very little of an impression.

He was only able to produce two shots, just one of which found the back of the net. Nunez may get another chance to establish himself as a starter against Bournemouth in Liverpool’s next Premier League match.

Given that the Reds are competing for numerous titles, Slot will probably rotate his team as the season goes on. This fixture congestion might be advantageous to Nunez. It might provide him more opportunities to establish himself in the eyes of both the manager and the supporters.