Friday, June 13, 2025
Sports World Today
  • Home
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NCAAF
  • Soccer
  • More
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
    • F1
    • Boxing
    • MMA
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NCAAF
  • SOCCER
  • TENNIS
  • BOXING
  • MMA
  • CRICKET
  • GOLF
  • F1
No Result
View All Result
Sports World Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Soccer

Arne Slot Highlights Why Darwin Nunez Isn’t the Ideal No. 9 for Liverpool

sportsworldtoday by sportsworldtoday
February 20, 2025
in Soccer
0 0
Arne Slot Highlights Why Darwin Nunez Isn’t the Ideal No. 9 for Liverpool
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


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.

Tags: ArneDarwinHighlightsIdealIsntLiverpoolNunezSlot
Previous Post

Ferrari: The Perfect Blend for Victory

Next Post

Australia vs England – ICC Champions Trophy 2025, 4th Match Prediction: Who Will Win?

Next Post
Australia vs England – ICC Champions Trophy 2025, 4th Match Prediction: Who Will Win?

Australia vs England - ICC Champions Trophy 2025, 4th Match Prediction: Who Will Win?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Schedule for Dolphins, Bills, and Steelers Games

Schedule for Dolphins, Bills, and Steelers Games

May 7, 2025
Week 1 NFL Odds and Lines for All 16 Games After Schedule Release

Week 1 NFL Odds and Lines for All 16 Games After Schedule Release

May 15, 2025
Manchester City vs Wolves: Line-Ups, Stats, and Match Preview

Manchester City vs Wolves: Line-Ups, Stats, and Match Preview

May 1, 2025
Jayson Tatum Reveals Celtics Players Enjoy Watching Coach Joe Mazzulla’s Press Conferences

Jayson Tatum Reveals Celtics Players Enjoy Watching Coach Joe Mazzulla’s Press Conferences

April 29, 2025
KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction: Today’s Match, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Updates – IPL 2025, Match 44

KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction: Today’s Match, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Updates – IPL 2025, Match 44

April 25, 2025
Photos of the Day: Paige Bueckers Warms Up and More in the WNBA

Photos of the Day: Paige Bueckers Warms Up and More in the WNBA

May 17, 2025

Hello world!

1
Eagles Quarterbacks Coach Pursuing New Job Opportunity

Eagles Quarterbacks Coach Pursuing New Job Opportunity

0
Brooke Pryor Describes Justin Fields as ‘Cautious’; Steelers Aim to Find ‘Balanced Approach’

Brooke Pryor Describes Justin Fields as ‘Cautious’; Steelers Aim to Find ‘Balanced Approach’

0
With Rising Salaries, Now is an Optimal Time for NFL Coaches

With Rising Salaries, Now is an Optimal Time for NFL Coaches

0
Eagles’ Super Bowl Victory Could Mark the Beginning for Nussmeier QB Legacy

Eagles’ Super Bowl Victory Could Mark the Beginning for Nussmeier QB Legacy

0
LaLiga Preview: Team Updates, Predicted Lineups, TV Viewing Info, and Match Predictions

LaLiga Preview: Team Updates, Predicted Lineups, TV Viewing Info, and Match Predictions

0
Queen’s 2025: Emma Raducanu Advances to Quarter-Finals as Britain’s New Number One

Queen’s 2025: Emma Raducanu Advances to Quarter-Finals as Britain’s New Number One

June 12, 2025
George Russell: Verstappen Deserves Race Ban if Incident Occurs

George Russell: Verstappen Deserves Race Ban if Incident Occurs

June 12, 2025
Analysis: REKS Sling Blade Golf Trivex Prescription Sunglasses

How to Watch the U.S. Open Today (Thursday) — A Quick Guide for Golf Enthusiasts

June 12, 2025
Celtics Likely to Shake Things Up This Offseason

Celtics Likely to Shake Things Up This Offseason

June 12, 2025
College Football Expert Advocates for Continuation of USC-Notre Dame Rivalry

College Football Expert Advocates for Continuation of USC-Notre Dame Rivalry

June 12, 2025
Leonard vs. Hearns II: The Hit Man Strikes Back

Leonard vs. Hearns II: The Hit Man Strikes Back

June 12, 2025
Sports World Today

Stay ahead in the game with Sports World Today – your ultimate source for the latest sports news, live scores, expert analysis, and in-depth coverage of football, basketball, cricket, and more. Get real-time updates, exclusive interviews, and trending stories from the world of sports!

Categories

  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • F1
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NCAAF
  • NFL
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Uncategorized

Recent News

  • Queen’s 2025: Emma Raducanu Advances to Quarter-Finals as Britain’s New Number One
  • George Russell: Verstappen Deserves Race Ban if Incident Occurs
  • How to Watch the U.S. Open Today (Thursday) — A Quick Guide for Golf Enthusiasts
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2025 Sports World Today.
Sports World Today is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NCAAF
  • Soccer
  • More
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
    • F1
    • Boxing
    • MMA

Copyright © 2025 Sports World Today.
Sports World Today is not responsible for the content of external sites.