Arne Slot believes that Darwin Nunez has allowed his apparent to lose him very much at 2-2 with Aston Villa and said his side has “lost very chance” this season.
The Reds failed to take the opportunity to extend their Premier League led to 10 points in the draw at Villa Park, but things could be very different if Uruguay had a golden opportunity shortly after entering Diogo Jota in the second half .
After being powered by Domink Szobozlai with much of the target targeting, Nunez was unable to keep his shot as Liverpool dropped more points in the title race.
Darwin Nenez miss a golden opportunity to put Liverpool in front 😬
📺 @tntsports & @DiscoveryPlusuk pic.twitter.com/8f0rfedphs
– Football at TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 19 February 2025
But instead of criticizing the 25 -year -old for this opportunity, the reception was more involved in the negative effect that allowed it to expand the rest of his substitution.
Before Sunday’s crucial game against Manchester City, Liverpool’s boss said: “I can accept each one, especially from a player who scored two very important goals against Brdford.
“In the game against the villa, I would prefer to score, but the word ‘chance’ says everything – it’s a ‘opportunity. It’s not 100% sure that the ball comes in.
“But what was a little harder for me to accept was his behavior after this opportunity. And with ‘behavior’ I mean I think he got too much on his head and he wasn’t the usual Darwin who works and makes sure he helps the group.
“I think he was very disappointed after missing this opportunity.”
Reception: Be more like Endo
The reception indicates the attitude of the Wataru Endo average, as Nunez should somehow try to imitate the promotion.
“I always really think it’s the best to have the wataru Endo mentality,” the Dutch manager added. “And what I mean is for all the time he continues to go, he continues to go and whenever we need him. He’s ready.
“And this is difficult because there aren’t a lot of players who can do this. So it’s not the opportunity for me, it’s more for the 20 minutes after which I want to talk to him than the one who misses an opportunity . “
Reception: ‘We have lost a lot of chances’
Arsenal played a day earlier on Saturday against West Ham and increases the pressure by closing the gap in five points ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Etihad.
The reception added: “Unfortunately, too many times this season we have lost the chances. And what I mean is that I don’t think we have stolen many points. I always return to Chelsea’s game when maybe a tie was probably a fairer result.
“But for any other game I think we got what we deserved, or we deserved more – and that’s more for me than Arsenal playing on Saturday and we on Sunday.”
The city of Sunday’s opponents was also in action on Wednesday night as a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid as it crashed by the Champions League with a total loss of 6-3.
It was the last poor result in an overwhelming era for the city that has been lying 17 points behind Liverpool in fourth place in the Premier League, but Splot knows that his side will still be a huge challenge to Etihad.
The 46 -year -old added: “What I always expect from the city from Pep (Guardiola) is a great football team that can play so well. They probably had one or two months out of seven or eight years that is there now that maybe it wasn’t the best – partially due to injuries as well.
“They have signed three or four players and I can see them come back already if you look at the result against Newcastle. What you expect is what everyone expects if you go to Etihad if you play against the city.
“You also have to suffer and work really hard to keep them away from your goal because they are so good in possession. But they also face a strong team that have not lost in 22 games now.”
Our Trent gets level 🎯 #Avlliv pic.twitter.com/iderxpnoma
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 20 2025
Group News: Gakpo was rated in front of the city, Bradley and Gomez
Slot said that “we will see” when asked about Cody Gakpo’s suitability after the Dutch promotion lost last Sunday win over wolves and the draw at the villa, adding that it would be a “close call” if he would participate in Etihad .
Liverpool’s boss also said that she does not expect the right Conor Bradley to make the city’s game or the middle week conflict with Newcastle.
Colleague Joe Gomez just had surgery in a hamstring, but the reception does not exclude the possibility of the English returning before the end of the season.
