Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has suggested that Darwin Nunez will be unhappy if Arne Slot does not use him regularly.
Darwin Nunez did not play against Ipswich Town this past weekend, and Arne Slot decided to use Diogo Jota instead as the central striker. The Portuguese international scored the first goal of the game as well.
It will be interesting to see if Slot decides to persist with Jota in the coming weeks as well. Nunez will want to play regularly at this stage of his career, and if Liverpool fail to provide him with that opportunity, he will be disappointed.
“Not good for Darwin Nunez, not good that Jota scores. If you are Darwin Nunez, you are wondering how do you get a start,” Nicol said on ESPN.
“If Jota keeps scoring goals and Darwin Nunez will not start, it’s beginning to feel like he’s not happy sitting on the bench. It’s sort of a carry-on from last year where he pretty much disappeared from the team, and it kind of smells a little bit like that.”
The 25-year-old cannot afford to sit on the bench at Liverpool at this stage of his career. He has been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks as well. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool decide to cash in on him.
There is no doubt that the South American forward is a world-class talent. But his finishing ability leaves a lot to be desired. Nunez missed several big chances last season, and he will have to improve on that front if he wants to start for a top club regularly. Liverpool need a reliable goalscorer, and Jota is certainly the better finisher out of the two.
So, it is no surprise that Slot used the Portuguese international against Ipswich. It remains to be seen whether Nunez gets his opportunities in the coming weeks now. The former Benfica striker has had his fair share of criticism since joining Liverpool. Jamie Carragher has also commented on him in recent months.
Although Nunez has impressed with his overall displays, his finishing ability has been criticised heavily. The 25-year-old striker has scored 33 goals in his last two seasons with the English club. While those are impressive numbers, his penchant for missing chances has left fans frustrated. It remains to be seen whether he can convince Slot to give him an extended run in the side now.