‘Wants it too much’ Slot not judging Nunez on goals | OneFootball

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has offered his support to Darwin Nunez, emphasising the striker’s value to the team beyond his goalscoring record.

Slot suggested the Uruguayan wants to score goals “almost too much” amid ongoing criticism of his performances for the club.

The 25-year-old has faced mounting criticism after a challenging start to the season, managing just three goals in 19 appearances across all competitions.

Despite the scrutiny, Slot remains confident in Nunez’s ability to make a difference for Liverpool.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Fulham, Slot highlighted Nunez’s work ethic and overall contribution to the team.

“For me, he has an impact. He hasn’t scored the amount of goals he or we want, but he has an impact with his work rate.

“He is part of a team that scores a lot of goals and wins a lot. I don’t only judge Darwin on his goals.”

Nunez’s performance in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Girona drew mixed reactions, with Slot admitting the forward’s missed chances in the final half hour were below standard.

“We all saw it did something to him when he missed the chances.

“I think everyone needs an arm around them at times like this. But I made it clear to him that he is not only judged on the goals he scores. Ideally, he scores more, of course.”

Nunez himself addressed the criticism on Instagram following the match against Girona, thanking Liverpool fans for their unwavering support.

“They are not all, they are some. Thank you Reds for your support, we are all still together,” he wrote.

Since joining Liverpool from Benfica in 2022 for an initial £64 million, Nunez has scored 36 goals in 115 appearances but has struggled with consistency.

However, Slot praised the support Nunez continues to receive from the Anfield faithful.

“All our players feed off the fans. What I like about our special fans is that they don’t only support when it’s going well for a player.”

Liverpool are set to welcome back Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa to the squad this weekend, with both forwards returning to training after injuries.

Their availability offers a timely boost to the Reds’ attacking options as they prepare for the clash with Fulham.