Arne Slot needs to make overdue Liverpool change as Darwin Nunez decision clear
Arne Slot has shown himself to be a coach who doesn’t like to change things up for the sake of it. As the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
For the most part of his early Liverpool career, that has certainly been the case. Since naming his first starting XI at Ipswich, he has made just three changes to his line-up in the following four games.
Even a defeat to Nottingham Forest and a midweek trip to Milan didn’t have him tinkering too much. Just the two adjustments were made, with Luis Diaz and Andy Robertson making way for Cody Gakpo and Kostas Tsimikas for the Champions League opener.
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Having got back to winning ways at the San Siro, you wouldn’t bet against Slot sticking to his guns again and putting his faith in the same side. Gakpo certainly doesn’t deserve to drop back to the bench after his display in Italy.
There is one change though that the Liverpool head coach should be considering. It may be time for Darwin Nunez to get his opportunity.
The Uruguayan has had a frustrating start to the season, having only been handed cameos here and there by Slot in the five games so far. Considering this might well be a make-or-break season for him, it’s not the ideal way to get things off and running.
The door may be opening for him now. Diogo Jota has now gone four games without a goal since getting the campaign up and running at Ipswich, and his display in Milan suggested it might be time for Slot to change things up top.
It does feel like Nunez is somewhat overdue his opportunity to stake a claim. Reports during the summer indicated that Slot viewed him as his main man to lead the line, although Jota’s earlier availability following a busy international summer may have handed the Portuguese an advantage.
With Liverpool’s poacher-in-chief not firing at the moment though – the chance he gave up at the San Siro was most unlike the accomplished finisher we’ve come to expect – it’s time for Nunez to show what he can do. He’s enjoyed his meetings with Bournemouth in the past, and it might be a good time to rediscover the sort of form the Reds know he’s capable of.
Of course, he will be under added pressure to deliver. Patience threatened to run out with the 25-year-old towards the end of last season as he continued to infuriate supporters with his finishing – wasting a gilt-edged opportunity at Everton in April not only ended Liverpool’s slim title hopes, but also led to him losing his starting spot, and he hasn’t been able to wrestle it back since.
He knows what it takes to make that spot his own again – after all, he did last season with his sensational double at Newcastle. If the opportunity arises against Bournemouth, he needs to take it with both hands.