Arne Slot on Darwin Nunez claims and ‘negative’ Liverpool questions: “This may come across as unusual.”

Arne Slot has dismissed the notion that Darwin Nunez is playing for his future at Liverpool, emphasizing that the focus should be on finding the best ways to utilize the striker’s abilities. Nunez, who missed Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest due to suspension, has struggled this season, scoring only two goals in 15 Premier League appearances and four in 26 across all competitions.

The Uruguayan forward is expected to return to the squad for Saturday’s match against Brentford. Despite recent speculation about a move to Saudi Arabia, which Anfield officials have refuted, Slot believes the priority is adapting the team’s approach to better suit Nunez’s strengths.

“Darwin is a striker we need to use in a particular way, and so far, we haven’t fully managed to bring out the best in him this season,” Slot said. “His pace is a significant asset, but most teams defend deep against us. If you look at his goals, like the one against Villa when he rounded the goalkeeper on a counterattack, that’s his primary strength. However, we’re still working on optimizing his positioning and movement against low-block defenses.”

Slot explained that creating opportunities for Nunez involves perfecting the timing of crosses, his starting positions, and his runs. He also credited opposing teams for effectively marking Liverpool’s No. 9, making it difficult for Nunez to score. “Every time we put in a cross, there’s a defender all over him. I see it, even if referees don’t. That’s why it’s harder for us to score against teams like Forest, who defend with almost their entire squad in the box.”

Despite these challenges, Slot remains confident in Nunez’s abilities. “Darwin will score his goals. He’s done it before, and he’ll do it again,” he stated.

When asked about the negative tone of some questions he’s faced as Liverpool’s head coach, Slot responded: “It might sound strange, but I’ve actually encountered more negativity in Holland than here. At Feyenoord, even when we were leading the league, the focus was more on team performance, whereas here, it’s often about individuals, like Salah. It’s not about positivity or negativity—it’s just a different e

mphasis.”