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Arne Slot explains what Darwin Nunez must do next after Liverpool goal leads to tears

Darwin Nunez celebrates his goal during Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth.
-Credit: (Image: Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)


Darwin Nunez couldn't have asked for much more during his first Liverpool start of the season. With the Uruguayan picked ahead of Diogo Jota in the starting XI, he undoubtedly had a point to prove.

In the first half at Anfield, Nunez curled a brilliant shot into Kepa's net with his left foot. The strike flew in off the post and his celebration involved shedding some tears. It was a big moment for Nunez but there have been a few of those for him at Liverpool so far. This one, he will hope, is a real turning point.

"We hope we are adding goals [to Nunez's game] because that is what you need from a striker but this work rate was really good," Arne Slot told the BBC after the final whistle. "We have a lot of good players, a lot of competition, and as long as they keep performing it is a very good thing for me."

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And that consistency is exactly what Liverpool needs from a player who could become its record signing when all add-ons included in the deal are activated. Last season's tally of 18 goals is not a bad one at first glance but this was the first time Nunez had scored a competitive goal for the Reds since April. He only got two goals in the final 13 games of the previous league campaign.

By the time he had scored here, his link-up play had looked promising. It was telling, too, that Nunez's off-the-ball work was picked out by Slot as being promising; he had pinpointed that as something to work out pre-match as well.

Liverpool.com says: Nunez's desire or willingness to run has never been something that has been questioned but his footballing intelligence at times has been. It is one thing to run but another to do so in the way that the coaching team is content with. He wasn't even caught offside today, either, which has to be progress.