Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted he has struggled to find a way to maximize striker Darwin Nunez amid the promotion speculations about his future at Anfield.
An £85m signing in the summer of 2022, Nunez has struggled to hold down a regular role in Sloto’s starting line-up, starting just seven times in the Premier League this season and scoring four goals in 26 appearances in all competitions.
Reports have linked Nunez with a departure from Liverpoolwith Al Hilal and even Manchester United hinted at testing the Reds’ resolveand Slot has now admitted that the 25-year-old does not suit the natural style of play he prefers.
“Darwin is a striker that we have to use in a certain way and we haven’t been able to get the best out of him this season,” Slot said.
“Against Accrington Stanley again you saw that he has a lot of pace, but unfortunately for him, most teams rely on us a lot. If you look back at the goals he scored for us, I remember the one against [Aston] When Villa went around the goalkeeper for a quick break, that is his main strength.
“He’s got other qualities, but we’re still working on getting him in the best possible position against the low block. That includes the right timing, the right tackles, the right starting position and making the right drive.”
Slot, however, defended Nunez’s unconvincing return in front of goal, claiming that teams defend more against Liverpool than against other opponents.
“The way teams defend our No. 9 is something you have to give them credit for,” Slott said. “It’s never, ‘Here Darwin, you can score’. Every time we throw the ball in, I see a defender all over him. I see it, the referees, unfortunately, don’t.
“It’s generally harder for us to score against teams like [Nottingham] Forest because every time we had a chance they had six, seven, eight, nine or ten players standing in the 18-yard box.
“And that once [Chris] Wood had the opportunity to be there almost alone. We weren’t really close to the ball. They only had one chance, we had 15. But with the 15 we had, someone was always close to the ball or over one of our players. Darwin will score his goals. He already did and he will again.”
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