Arne Slot has criticized a Liverpool player for his lack of effort, casting uncertainty over the player’s future at Anfield.
Slot publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Darwin Nunez, suggesting the striker’s position at Liverpool could be at risk. The criticism stemmed from Nunez’s performance in the recent draw against Aston Villa, which led to him being dropped for the win over Manchester City.
What Slot said about Nunez The Dutch manager reiterated his concerns over Nunez’s work rate, stating he cannot accept players who don’t give their all for the team. While Slot acknowledged that Nunez had shown commitment in certain matches, he noted that his recent displays have fallen short.
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“I helped him by saying you can miss a chance. I wasn’t only hard on him,” Slot explained. “But for the second time in a row, I wasn’t happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.”
He continued, “I always try to be honest with my players and with you guys as well. I try to protect my players, so I don’t say he never worked hard. I know him differently. I know him from Villa at home where he made a 100-meter sprint and scored, and from when he came on against City at home, pressing aggressively, winning the ball back, and we scored.”
“But I can’t accept a player not giving everything. That’s clear. I can accept it once, but twice was too much. That’s why I addressed it.”
Since joining Liverpool from Benfica in 2022, Nunez has struggled to meet expectations. He has scored just six goals in 35 appearances this season and has frequently been used as a substitute.
What’s next for Liverpool? Liverpool will face Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday night.
