Arne Slot believes Darwin Nunez allowed his evident miss to have an effect on him an excessive amount of within the 2-2 with Aston Villa and mentioned his aspect have “missed too many possibilities” this season.
The Reds did not take the chance to increase their Premier League result in 10 factors within the draw at Villa Park however issues might have been a lot totally different had the Uruguayan taken a golden alternative shortly after approaching for Diogo Jota within the second half.
After being fed by by Domink Szobozlai with a lot of the purpose to intention at, Nunez was unable to maintain his shot down as Liverpool dropped extra factors within the title race.
Darwin Nunez misses a golden alternative to place Liverpool forward 😬
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/8f0rFedPHs
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025
However quite than critise the 25-year-old for that probability, Slot was extra involved with the adverse impact the ahead allowed it ot have on the remainder of his substitute apearance.
Forward of Sunday’s essential recreation towards Manchester Metropolis, the Liverpool boss mentioned: “I can settle for each miss, particularly from a participant that has scored two crucial targets towards Brentford.
“Within the recreation towards Villa, I would like him to attain, however the phrase ‘probability’ says all of it – it’s a ‘probability. It’s not 100% certain that the ball goes in.
“However what was a bit tougher for me to just accept was his behaviour after that probability. And by ‘behaviour’ I imply I feel it acquired an excessive amount of in his head and he wasn’t the standard Darwin that works his *** off and makes certain he helps the staff.
“I feel he was too upset after lacking that probability.”
Slot: Be extra like Endo
Slot pointed to the angle of midfielder Wataru Endo as somehting Nunez ought to attempt to emulate transferring ahead.
“I at all times actually consider it’s the perfect to have Wataru Endo’s mindset,” the Dutch supervisor added. “And what I imply by that’s for the entire season he simply retains on going, retains on going and at any time when we want him, he’s prepared.
“And that’s tough as a result of there aren’t many gamers that may do that. So it’s not in regards to the probability for me, it’s extra in regards to the 20 minutes afterwards that I wish to discuss to him about than about him lacking an opportunity.”
Slot: ‘We’ve missed too many possibilities’
Arsenal play a day earlier on Saturday towards West Ham and ramp up the strain by closing the hole to 5 factors forward of Liverpool’s journey to the Etihad.
Slot added: “Sadly, too many instances this season we’ve missed possibilities. And what I imply by that’s I don’t suppose we’ve stolen many factors. I at all times come again to the Chelsea recreation when perhaps a draw was perhaps a extra honest consequence.
“However for each different recreation I feel we acquired what we deserved, or we deserved extra – and that’s extra of a factor for me than Arsenal enjoying on Saturday and we on Sunday.”
Sunday’s opponents Metropolis had been additionally in motion Wednesday evening as a 3-1 defeat at Actual Madrid as they crashed out of the Champions League with a 6-3 mixture loss.
It was the newest poor end in an underwhelming season for Metropolis which has them mendacity 17 factors behind Liverpool in fourth within the Premier League, however Slot is aware of his aspect will nonetheless be in for an enormous problem on the Etihad.
The 46-year-old added: “What I at all times anticipate from Metropolis since Pep [Guardiola] is there’s a nice soccer staff that may play so effectively. They’ve had perhaps one or two months because the seven or eight years he’s there now that perhaps weren’t the perfect – partly due to accidents as effectively.
“They’ve signed three or 4 gamers and I can see them coming again already for those who take a look at the consequence towards Newcastle. What you anticipate is what everybody expects for those who go to the Etihad for those who play towards Metropolis.
“You need to endure as effectively and work actually laborious to maintain them away out of your purpose as a result of they’re so, so good in possession. However they face a powerful staff as effectively that haven’t misplaced in 22 video games now.”
Trent will get us degree 🎯 #AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/IDerXPnOmA
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 20, 2025
Staff information: Gakpo assessed forward of Metropolis, Bradley and Gomez out
Slot mentioned “we are going to see” when requested in regards to the health of Cody Gakpo after the Dutch ahead missed final Sunday’s win over Wolves and the draw at Villa, including it could be a “shut name” whether or not he could be concerned on the Etihad.
The Liverpool boss additionally mentioned he doesn’t anticipate right-back Conor Bradley to make the Metropolis recreation or the midweek conflict with Newcastle.
Fellow Joe Gomez has simply had surgical procedure on a hamstring however Slot will not be ruling out the possiblity of the Englishman returning earlier than the top of the season.
