When Arne Slot was first introduced as Jurgen Klopp’s successor, there was an understanding certainly one of his first main duties at Liverpool can be enhancing Darwin Nunez.
The Uruguayan, nonetheless, seems to have regressed considerably beneath the Dutchman’s care – not less than so far as purpose contributions are involved.
The previous Benfica hitman registered 31 purpose contributions in 54 video games (throughout all competitions) in 2023/24 at a charge of 1 each 97.61 minutes. That charge has fallen considerably within the 2024/25 season to at least one purpose contribution each 176.33 minutes (from three objectives and three assists).
A tweak within the workforce’s enjoying fashion has little question contributed to Nunez’s struggles, with Liverpool more and more steering away from the chaos that beforehand enabled the No.9 to thrive within the ahead line.
Jermaine Pennant thinks Liverpool ought to promote Darwin Nunez
It raises questions, maybe, over how the membership ought to now deal with the scenario – a removed from simple conundrum given we forked out an preliminary £64m for the striker’s companies. On the finish of the season, there’ll nonetheless be three years remaining on the six-year deal he first signed again in 2022.
Jermaine Pennant’s thoughts is already made up; the 41-year-old believes Liverpool can be finest suggested to chop their losses and promote on the subsequent out there alternative.
“I feel Liverpool ought to minimize their losses with Darwin Nunez,” the previous Pink instructed On line casino Apps (by way of Metro).
“He value a lot cash and is up there with certainly one of Liverpool’s highest-paid gamers.
“He’s simply not giving Liverpool what they paid for – sure, he works his socks off and the followers love him, bringing one thing completely different to the workforce, however finally you need objectives.
“Particularly for that price ticket, you count on returns to justify that price, I feel after this season – which is his third – we’re not going to see any enchancment within the fourth or fifth.
“That is it now, that is the ultimate product of Darwin Nunez. No disrespect to him, however he’s not on the extent as a participant that Liverpool are as a workforce.
“Liverpool has had some nice quantity nines up to now, and Nunez falls in need of them. I feel it’d be smart to dump him someplace in Europe and make investments the cash they get for him elsewhere.”
Give Nunez not less than till the tip of the season
It’s exhausting to again Nunez fully to the hilt on condition that the likes of Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Mo Salah look like thriving in Arne Slot’s system.
Pennant’s case was actually strengthened by our Portuguese worldwide registering an essential equaliser in our 2-2 draw with Fulham on the weekend.
Nonetheless, it shouldn’t go unnoticed that it was our Uruguayan hitman who offered the all-important help.
In our view, we nonetheless wish to see Darwin Nunez given each little bit of backing till the tip of the season – not less than – after which an analysis must be made as to his long-term worth within the Slot period.
We all know he’s able to the spectacular, we all know there’s a really high quality participant in there. It’s only a query of whether or not or not our new head coach can encourage some consistency in his goalscoring exploits past an amazing work charge on the pitch.