As Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez continues to make an impact, coach Arne Slot has taken note of the striker’s recent performances and has made some telling remarks that suggest he has seen a change in him.
Nunez produced an excellent display off the ball against Chelsea, replacing the injured Diogo Jota, and followed it up with a strong start against Leipzig in the Champions League. His work rate and willingness to press the opposition were evident in both games, showcasing a newfound dedication to his duties.
Slot believes that Nunez has put in a lot of effort to improve, and it’s paying off. “I think he has put a lot of effort in and that is the first thing you can ask of a player,” he said. “And it was also nice of him to score a goal, I was a bit in doubt if it was needed for him to touch it and I think in the end it was, the ball was maybe…what do you think? Ask Mo Salah!”
The 29-year-old Uruguayan’s goal against Leipzig, where he poked home Mohamed Salah’s header, was a vital moment, and Slot praised his work rate, saying, “He scored a goal, which was vital but his work rate was also really good.”
While Jota has traditionally been the first-choice striker under Slot’s system, Nunez’s emerging form has put him in the mix, and the coach is adapting his tactics to suit the difference. “It depends on what the other team is doing,” he explained. “If they are playing with an inverted full-back or building up with four, or if they play 4-3-3, 5-3-2. The thing with Diogo, he is, in my opinion, more of a nine-and-a-half and also defensively you could almost see him as a midfielder and most midfielders defend better than strikers.”
Nunez is a different type of striker, and Slot seems to be tailoring his approach to utilize the Uruguayan’s strengths. “So that is why we adjusted in the second half against Chelsea in our press because Darwin came in instead of Diogo being there,” he said. “So we do adjust the game plan to get the best from every player and as a result of that the best out of the team, that’s defensively but also offensively. Darwin is a different type of striker to Diogo, so we have to use his qualities there in the best possible way as well.”
