Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez has come under fire in some quarters this season. He has only scored four times in the Premier League under Arne Slot, and the Reds boss criticized him recently with his performances showing little impact.
But former Liverpool assistant coach, Pep Lijnders, remains a big fan of the striker. Signed from Benfica in 2022, he has talent — but has sometimes struggled with blocking out the noise that comes with being the Reds’ number nine.
“With social media and how the world is now, these players go through moments when it’s like the whole world has an opinion,” Lijnders says on the new Amazon documentary released about Jurgen Klopp’s tenure. “For players nowadays, it’s really important that that cannot take the confidence away.”
Lijnders worked with Nunez to get more from him and firmly believed there was more to come. “Some players are just about scoring, but you’re becoming more and more of an assist provider,” the Dutch coach told the Uruguayan. “I still think you’ve got so much to offer.”
So far, though, Slot has struggled to get more from Nunez. As well as failing to kick on in terms of goalscoring, the 25-year-old has not really developed in link-up play either this season. Luis Diaz was often deployed through the center when Diogo Jota was injured.
“I helped Darwin by saying you can miss a chance [against Villa],” Slot said ahead of his side’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United. “I wasn’t only hard on him. But for the second time in a row I wasn’t happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“I can’t accept if a player doesn’t give everything. That is clear. I can accept it once but twice was a bit too much. That’s why I addressed it.
“But if you miss a chance, you need to be fighting for the team. I’m not saying he didn’t do that at all, but it wasn’t the usual Darwin, the one that is loved by the fans. That is mainly because he always works so hard.”
Liverpool.com says: It doesn’t feel like there is more to come from Nunez at Liverpool now, whereas for much of his time on Merseyside, it very much has. If things were going to click into gear for him, they probably would have already. For that reason, it might soon be the right time for a parting of ways when the season ends, as long as an upgrade can be brought in.
