Darwin Nunez faces such intense scrutiny over every game he plays; you could almost imagine him doing a “Why always me?” tribute if he scores the winning goal against Manchester City on Sunday. But judging by his latest match with a 2-2 draw at Villa Park—and the intense criticism that followed—there’s no guarantee he’s hitting the net, let alone making it onto the field.
One moment in the game saw Nunez send a left-footed shot soaring over the bar when the goal was wide open in the second half—a miss ranking as the sixth-worst in this Premier League season based on expected goals (xG). It clocked in at 0.75 xG, only slightly better than attempts by players like Marcus Tavernier or Nicolas Jackson, who missed even more promising opportunities.
In all fairness, Nunez’s chance was harder than it seemed. He was under pressure, charging forward, and relying on his less favored foot. But whether Dominik Szoboszlai needed to pass to him at all is debatable, given he was one-on-one with goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Yet, the storm of criticism Nunez is caught in is fueled by numerous missed opportunities and that hefty £85 million price tag. A record-signing striker for England’s top club, he’d be expected to have more than six goals in 35 matches and start more than a dozen league games by February.
Right now, though, Nunez often finds himself sidelined. When he does get his chance, he often fails to impress. Since joining Liverpool, his rate of missing big chances is one of the highest in the league, comparable to Erling Haaland, yet without Haaland’s phenomenal goal stats to balance it out.
When both Nunez and Haaland joined the Premier League, comparisons abounded—with Nunez struggling to keep pace. Years later, his progress at Liverpool seems almost stagnant.
Beyond the missed goals, problems persist. Jurgen Klopp, who signed him from Benfica, has faced frustration with Nunez failing to understand tactical instructions—perhaps due in part to language barriers. Although known for his effort and willingness to press, Nunez lacks the finesse found in players like Roberto Firmino or even current teammates Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.
More than once, Slot has contrasted Nunez’s traditional striker style with Jota’s and Diaz’s versatility—players who fit the modern ‘nine-and-a-half’ role. Slot seems to have a clearer vision for Diaz, a former winger now playing centrally, signaling where Liverpool’s attacking future may lie.
Diaz may not be the perfect fit either, but he adapts by dropping back and helping Liverpool’s lethal scorers like Mohamed Salah operate effectively. Slot’s approach mirrors the style of play during the Firmino era under Klopp, where Salah and Sadio Mane thrived.
It was once believed Slot saw Nunez as a project, hoping to replicate the success with Santiago Gimenez at Feyenoord. However, as things stand now, that future may not extend past this summer.
Slot recently critiqued Nunez’s lack of effort after missing that glaring chance. “You can miss, but your work rate can’t drop,” he emphasized, addressing reporters after the game. “He knows that’s the price of being a striker.”
Nunez’s apparent disinterest was amplified by the collapse of a potential transfer to the Saudi Pro League, with Liverpool rejecting a substantial bid from Al-Nassr. Despite the blockage, this saga leaves two clear impressions: Nunez is open to new opportunities, and Liverpool might be willing to sell when timing aligns.
Comparisons to Christian Benteke’s past situation at Liverpool, reshaping around a classic No. 9, comes to mind. A managerial shift from Brendan Rodgers to Klopp led to Benteke’s exit, and it wouldn’t be surprising if something similar unfolded at Slot’s first season’s end at Liverpool.
