Arne Slot Defends Darwin Nunez's Contribution Despite Slow Goal Start This Season

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Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, has defended striker Darwin Nunez amid criticism about his goal-scoring record. Ahead of their match against Fulham on Saturday, Slot highlighted Nunez's contributions beyond just scoring. This season, Nunez has netted three goals in all competitions for Liverpool, last scoring in a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Despite missing three significant chances this season, only Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah have missed more opportunities with five and nine respectively. In the recent 1-0 Champions League win over Girona, Nunez had two shots on target but appeared frustrated after the match. Slot emphasized that Nunez's impact goes beyond goals.

Slot stated, "For me, he has an impact. If you only look at goals, he hasn't scored as many as he wants to score, or we want a number nine to score." He praised Nunez's work rate and ability to help regain possession and create chances. Slot added that while Nunez is part of a team that scores frequently and wins often, as a striker, he naturally desires more goals.

The manager also mentioned that both Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota might return to the squad this weekend. Jota could be available after recovering from a rib injury sustained at the end of October. Chiesa has played only 18 minutes since joining Liverpool and needs more game time to regain fitness.

Slot commented on Chiesa's situation: "What he needs is playing time. If you haven't played for five or six months, it is sometimes difficult for a manager to give him those minutes because you don't know what to expect." He suggested that the upcoming Southampton game might offer an opportunity for Chiesa to gain some minutes on the pitch.

Slot reiterated his holistic approach to evaluating players like Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez. "I'm not only judging Mo or Darwin on goals," he said. "I also judge on their work rate and what they bring to the team." He acknowledged fans' support for Nunez and noted that it might drive him to try too hard to score.

As Liverpool prepares for their upcoming matches, Slot remains focused on balancing player fitness with performance demands. The potential return of key players like Jota and Chiesa could bolster the squad's depth as they continue their campaign.