Arne Slot has credited Darwin Nunez with a positive response to public criticism after his substitute appearance helped secure a vital 1-0 win at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. Nunez, who replaced Diogo Jota at the Parc des Princes, supplied the assist for Harvey Elliott to score the winning goal just 47 seconds after his introduction in a Champions League tie that saw the Ligue 1 leaders dominate for large parts.

Uruguay international Nunez was challenged to increase his work rate by Slot after the head coach claimed his striker's levels had noticeably dipped after a glaring miss in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa last month and the Reds forward responded with a post on social media insisting: "You will never see me throw in the towel. I will give it my all until the last day I am here in Liverpool."

Slot, whose side entertain rock-bottom Southampton on Saturday, says he is pleased to see how his centre-forward has applied himself since seeing his performances called into question, saying: "I think he was just back to being normal Darwin, the player he was for seven or eight months [previously].

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"I think once or twice - for the games I mentioned - he was exceptional and for the fans, he is so loved by the fans because he always gives everything since he's been here.

"That is what he's always done, that is what he did against Paris Saint-Germain and that is what he did in the last week as well. He had one or two games that were not perfect, that also had to do with him missing that chance against Villa. But sometimes, these things happen and now he is back to being the normal Darwin."

Slot's side have scored two or more goals in their last 18 home games in all competitions, dating back to September's 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. It's the longest record of its kind since Sunderland went 19 games in 1935 and while the Reds boss admits he was unaware of such a statistic, he does admit it showcases his team's consistency in front of goal at Anfield.

Slot added: "Oh yeah, it's always nice but it is not the record I came to England for. But what it does tell you is the chances of winning a home game increases a lot if you can score two in a home game. So that helps. We are not focused on those records, we focus on Southampton and then the Champions League and Carabao Cup final [with Newcastle].

"It's a sign we are balanced and a sign that we have a lot of quality with players who can score goals in our squad. It's also a sign of consistency and that is what you need, not only scoring goals but also not conceding in a season where you are fighting for the things we are.

"Yeah [we might be 16 points clear tomorrow] but Arsenal have two games in hand. It is about us keeping winning games because the only way to win something is to keep winning yourself and that is what we have to focus on and Southampton is a team that is bottom of the league but they don’t have a style of play like this so they will come at us again, they are not going to wait so we have to be ready for that and it is not like, again the fans, but we as staff, players, fans have to be ready for a big game coming up.

"We only have to look at the game we played against Southampton away, 3-2 win, very difficult one, two times a goal down, so we don’t look at Arsenal to be ready for the game or the week after or the week after, we only have to look at ourselves,

"Wolves was difficult, Southampton away was difficult, the League Cup was difficult, against Paris Saint-Germain, it was really difficult. So, yes, we are a really good team but not a team that every week wins four or five nil and after half an hour is already 3-0. We have seen a team doing that in recent years already a few times and I think longer ago, Liverpool also had that, after half an hour, it was already 3-0.

"We are not that team yet. It is something we are trying to go to but therefore it is something we need to improve a lot but what this team does have is fighting spirit and until now they have always found a way to win a game and not always in the same manner, not always dominating ball possession, sometimes also by defending really hard and being good in transition.

"So, no, we are not looking at all at the results of Arsenal, we look at our own and then we already know we have to be on top of our game because if we are on top of our game, we mostly win by one goal margins."