Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has recently come out in robust defense of Darwin Nunez, the club’s Uruguayan forward, amid criticism over his goal tally this season. Despite scoring only three goals in 19 appearances, Slot remains confident in Nunez’s abilities and has given him a vote of confidence.
Slot emphasized that Nunez’s impact on the team goes beyond just scoring goals. “He is part of a team that scores a lot of goals and is winning a lot,” Slot said. “But as a number nine, you want to score more goals, and that’s definitely what he wants as well.”
The Dutch manager pointed out that Nunez’s work rate and overall contribution to the team are crucial. “If you only look at goals, he hasn’t scored the amount of goals he wants to score, or we want a number nine to score, but he does have an impact in his work-rate.”
Slot also addressed the pressure Nunez faces from fans and social media. “Maybe because the fans support him so much, he wants it almost too much to score that goal for himself and also for the fans because they have been very supportive,” Slot said. He added that Nunez needs an arm around the shoulder at this tough time in terms of confidence.
Despite the criticism, Nunez has shown resilience. In a post-match Instagram message, he wrote, “They are not all, they are some. Thank you Reds for your support, we are all still together.” Slot echoed this sentiment, stating, “The fans have a lot of love for him, and he will not be the first player who gets criticism on social media.”
Slot believes that it’s a matter of time before Nunez starts scoring more goals. “Sometimes you score, sometimes you don’t, but what should always be there is work-rate, and that’s what he has,” Slot concluded.
As Liverpool continues its campaign, the support from both the terraces and the touchline could be crucial for Nunez to regain his confidence and start finding the back of the net more consistently.
Liverpool performance and stats
Liverpool is currently 1st in the Premier League with 35 points.
In the last 14 games, it has won 11 times, drew twice, and lost once. In its last match, Liverpool drew 3-3 against Newcastle United.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 29 goals and conceding 11.
Liverpool will play the next match in Premier League against Fulham on Saturday 14th of December in Liverpool. The prediction is Liverpool winning the match.
