Yahoo Sports Steve Nicol offers unflattering Darwin Nunez verdict as struggles continue
Liverpool’s start to life under Arne Slot continues to go from strength to strength, with the new head coach already setting records after the recent 2-0 win over Bologna in the Champions League.
Slot has made an instant impact on the way the team play, with a slower buildup from the back key to creating space higher up the pitch for the forwards to exploit.
This approach has benefited some of the attacking players already, with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo both incredibly dangerous coming from the left hand side, and Mohamed Salah at his usual consistent best.
However, one Liverpool player is looking “lost” in Slot’s side, according to club legend Steve Nicol.
READ MORE: Why Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool isn't a big deal
One of the main criticisms aimed at Slot’s side so far is a lack of cutting edge, with fans and pundits often frustrated at players choosing the wrong option at the wrong time, with Darwin Nunez the main culprit when he’s on the pitch.
“I’m afraid Nunez looks a little lost, to be quite honest,” Nicol said, on ESPN after the Bologna game. “He got substituted and Jota came on, but in general all the front players need to do better with the final ball, the final pass, the final decision. If they can get that right, they’ll score lots of goals.”
NUNEZ HAS BLINKERS ON
Nunez completed just 33% of his passes against Bologna, and it’s clear that he’s low on confidence – a real problem for a player who can look unstoppable when he believes his hype.
That mental resilience is something that he needs to add to his game if he is going to become a regular fixture in Slot’s starting eleven.
“It’s really the mental side of the game,” Nicol said. “It’s the mental side.
“I’m sure they have somebody who can sit and talk to him and keep him positive, keep reassuring him and all of those things but at the end of the day most of it comes down to the player themselves to get over it and unfortunately, right now, he can’t get out of his own way. He’s running offside, a couple of times when he tried to shoot he should have passed it.
“The harder it gets, the less you see. When things are going well your vision is great, your eyes are wide open and you can see the runs, you can see the net, you can see everything. But when you’re struggling, my goodness, the blinkers come on and then all of a sudden everything becomes difficult.”
SLOT DEFENDS NUNEZ
While fans and pundits have voiced their concern at Nunez's form, Slot has publicly backed the Uruguayan to find his feet.
"I don’t think it’s fair to say he only scored one [goal since April] because you also have to look at the playing time," Slot said when asked about Nunez’s lack of goals after the Bologna game.
"I think this was his third start of the season so I don’t look at it in the way you do and only focus on the individual. I think in the first hour we didn’t create lot of chances for him because we missed out on the last pass on a number of occasions."
NUNEZ HAS THE TALENT
Despite his poor form, Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann backed Nunez to succeed at Liverpool, disagreeing with Nicol on ESPN.
“I absolutely believe that he has the talent and the qualities to play on that level, to play at the highest level in the Premier League and also the Champions League," Klinsmann said.
"It’s just a question of consistency, he still hasn’t figured out how to be consistent at the highest level – he gives you brilliant games but then you don’t see him for a couple of weeks. I hope that he can work that out down the road but I still believe he has everything he needs to be a top-class striker."
Liverpool have been linked with a number of strikers in recent months, and with Atletico Madrid rumoured to be lining up a move for Nunez, the next few months will be crucial if he's to succeed at Anfield.
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