Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed dissatisfaction with striker Darwin Nunez’s work rate in his last two performances.
The Uruguayan international came on as a second-half substitute in the 16 February victory over Wolves and the 19 February draw at Aston Villa, where he notably missed an open goal.
Nunez was left on the bench during Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Manchester City on Sunday, a result that extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 11 points.
While Slot defended Nunez following his miss against Villa, he criticized the striker for allowing his “disappointment” to affect his work rate on the pitch.
“I helped him by saying you can miss a chance,” Slot said in his news conference before Wednesday’s visit of Newcastle.
“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 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 praised Darwin Nunez, who has scored six goals in 35 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool this season, describing his performance in Monday’s training session as “incredible.”