Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says he “can’t accept” a lack of work rate from Darwin Nunez in criticising the striker for a second time in a matter of days.
Slot revealed last week he was unhappy with the Uruguay international’s “behaviour” following a costly miss in the midweek Premier League draw at Aston Villa.
Nunez was then an unused substitute in the win over Manchester City on Sunday.
Asked about his comments ahead of Wednesday’s game with Newcastle United, Slot reiterated the need for the 25-year-old to stay “fighting for the team” even when he’s not scoring.
“I helped him by saying you can miss a chance. I wasn’t only hard on him,” Slot said. “But for the second time in a row I wasn’t happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.
“I always try to be honest with my players and be honest as I can to you guys as well where I always try to protect my players so I don’t say he never worked hard. I know him differently. I know him at Villa at home where he made a 100 metre sprint and scored a goal, I know him when he came on at City at home and was pressing really aggressively and wins the ball back and we score.
“But 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.
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“Not that I’m all of a sudden very angry with him. I don’t mind that he missed a chance, I’d have loved him to score it, and I know he will eventually score. 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.”
Nunez has scored six goals in 35 appearances in all competitions this season, including four in the Premier League.
While admitting that the miss at Villa Park is still weighing on him, Slot says Nunez was “incredible” in training on Monday as he looks to win a place back in the side.
“He was still down about it,” Slot said of Nunez’s response. “As much as I want the number nine to be seen as working hard and do whatever is needed for the team, a normal number nine is focused on goals.
“I can keep talking to him about work-rate, work-rate, work-rate, but he and any number nine will always be disappointed if he misses a chance. He was still a bit disappointed the day after.
“But yesterday he was incredible in the training session when it comes to work-rate. Hopefully he can keep doing this, and whenever the team needs him then he is ready for it if he keeps putting in sessions like he did yesterday.”
(Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
