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Darwin Nunez's telling Liverpool reaction shows next challenge under Arne Slot is clear

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez.
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)


Now into his third season at Liverpool, this was always going to be a big one for Darwin Nunez. The Reds' record signing from Benfica in 2022, he is still finding his feet and getting used to his role.

He scored on his only Premier League start of the season against Bournemouth but was then ill for the match with Wolves. In terms of brilliant moments, there have been plenty but Nunez is still yet to find proper consistency in terms of both a place in the team and also in front of goal.

The numbers have never been too bad. Nunez scored 15 times and provided four assists in his first season with Liverpool and then beat that total with 18 goals and 13 assists last year. If he had cost half of what he did, that would perhaps be viewed as good value.

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Instead, though, the expectation is that he can improve. In part, that is linked to the price tag; in part, though, it is also because there remains a feeling that there is still untapped potential to be released. He scores some spectacular goals but doesn't always put away the tap-ins. If he could just do the easy bits as well as the more difficult stuff, Nunez's record would look completely different.

There is also an argument that Nunez needs to be given the chance to play regularly from the start in the Liverpool team if he is to show consistent form, but the Reds cannot afford to give the South American a run of games just to see what happens. Last year, the 25-year-old went 14 appearances without finding the back of the net and Diogo Jota is a more reliable option.

As Jota and Alexis Mac Allister went around the AXA Training Centre and let their Liverpool teammates know what their ratings are on the new edition of the video game EA FC, by far the funniest moment came when Nunez was told his. Luis Diaz rolled about laughing as the Uruguayan said: "But out of seven games, I spent five on the bench!"

Nunez was seemingly under the impression that his rating would be based on the first few matches of this season rather than the previous campaign. Instead, his rating of 82 has remained the same compared to the last version of the game.

Despite the misunderstanding, it does shine a light on what Nunez is thinking at this point in the season. Now eight games in after Liverpool beat Wolves without him, the striker is a definite second choice to Jota as the Reds' number nine. Nunez has made one Premier League start and one Carabao Cup start and has so far made a limited impact relative to the season so far as a whole.

There are, of course, plenty of games still to come. It remains to be seen whether or not he will be available for the Champions League match with Bologna midweek but even if not, there are two games a week for the foreseeable future. Even if Jota remains the number one pick, as seems likely as long as he stays fit, Nunez will get his minutes.

Staying patient has not always been a quality Nunez has displayed regularly at Anfield, particularly when in front of goal. In a critical campaign for his Liverpool career, though, sooner rather than later, he is going to have to take the chance to impress — even when the pressure is on.