Liverpool’s performance against Aston Villa was an improvement compared to their recent outings against Everton and Wolves.
However, Arne Slot’s side still had to settle for just a single point at Villa Park, with Darwin Nunez squandering a crucial opportunity after coming off the bench in the second half.
The Uruguayan forward had a golden chance to secure victory when Dominik Szoboszlai set him up in front of an open goal. Yet, instead of finding the net, Nunez sent his effort soaring over the bar, leaving fans and his manager in disbelief.
Arne Slot Frustrated with Nunez’s Reaction
To say Arne Slot was frustrated would be an understatement. The Liverpool boss was seen with his head in his hands before later expressing concerns about Nunez’s response to the miss.
“I can accept every miss, especially from a player who scored two crucial goals against Brentford,” Slot told *The Daily Mail’s* Lewis Steele on X (formerly Twitter).
“What’s hard for me to accept is the reaction afterward. That wasn’t the usual Darwin who works tirelessly. He was too disappointed by the miss.”
So far in the 2024/25 season, Nunez has managed 11 goal contributions (six goals and five assists) in 35 appearances across all competitions.
Nunez Responds to Slot’s Criticism
It remains unclear whether Nunez was directly responding to Slot’s comments or simply addressing broader criticism with his social media activity.
His initial tweet, which was later deleted, suggested the latter, though he appeared to adjust his tone in a follow-up post.
Is This Nunez’s Final Season at Liverpool?
Nunez’s frustrations are understandable. Despite inconsistencies in the previous two seasons, he has still managed to make an impact.
However, with teammates like Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah thriving under Slot’s system, it’s becoming increasingly evident that Nunez may not be the right fit for the Dutchman’s style of play.
A lack of work rate in such a crucial match, with the Premier League title race on the line, will only add fuel to speculation about his future. Reports linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia suggest an exit could be on the cards this summer.
It’s not the outcome many envisioned at the start of the campaign, but unless something drastically changes in the coming months, Nunez’s time at Liverpool may be nearing its end.
That said, we still hope he can prove us wrong.
