Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed his dissatisfaction with striker Darwin Nunez’s work-rate in his recent performances. Nunez was a second-half substitute in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Wolves on February 16 and the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on February 19, where he missed an open goal.
Nunez was not included in the squad for the 2-0 win at Manchester City on Sunday, which extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to 11 points.
While Slot defended Nunez following his miss against Villa, he said the striker’s “disappointment” seemed to affect his work-rate. He emphasized that, although it was understandable to miss a chance, it was crucial for Nunez to give his all for the team.
“I wasn’t just hard on him. But for the second consecutive game, I wasn’t happy with his work rate against Wolves and Villa,” Slot said. “I can’t accept a lack of effort from a player, once is understandable, but twice was too much, which is why I addressed it.”
Slot noted that despite the missed chances, Nunez needed to keep fighting for the team. He added that the usual Nunez, who is loved by fans for his hard work, was missing during those matches.
Slot did acknowledge Nunez’s positive performance in training on Monday and highlighted his strong physical stats. Nunez ranks highly in distance covered and sprints per 90 minutes within the team. He averages 25.86 sprints per game, second only to Connor Bradley, and his average distance covered is 11.28 km per game, fifth highest in the squad.
Despite playing less than 30 minutes in the Wolves and Villa games, Nunez still managed to cover 3.66 km with eight sprints against Wolves and 3.06 km with six sprints against Villa.
