Liverpool boss Arne Slot has questioned Darwin Nunez’s work-rate and says he “can’t accept it if a player doesn’t give everything”.
Slot spoke of his frustration with Nunez’s downbeat demeanour following the Uruguay striker’s late miss at Aston Villa last week but has now admitted he was also unhappy with his effort in the preceding match with Wolves.
Nunez was a second-half substitute in both games, and is likely to be among the substitutes again tonight when Liverpool host Newcastle at Anfield.
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“I helped him by saying you can miss a chance,” Slot said in explaining his remarks after the game at Villa.
“I wasn’t only hard on him. But for the second time in a row I wasn’t happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.
“I can’t accept it if a player doesn’t give everything. That is clear. I can accept it once, but twice was a bit too much. That’s why I addressed it.
“If you miss a chance, you need to be fighting for the team. I’m not saying he didn’t do that at all, but it wasn’t the usual Darwin, the one that is loved by the fans. That is mainly because he always works so hard.”
Slot did say, however, that Nunez was “incredible” in training on Monday as he attempts to regain credit with the manager.