Arne Slot’s ultimatum to Nunez, Liverpool’s new coach, stressed transfer focus. #anfield #liverpool
Former Premier League striker Jermaine Defoe has indicated that Liverpool might lag behind Manchester City and Arsenal if Darwin Nunez remains the main striker. The 24-year-old has been strongly linked with leaving Anfield due to recent disappointing performances. Nunez, whose contract runs until 2028, has appeared in 34 Premier League matches this season, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists.
Despite his decent stats, the Uruguayan hasn’t contributed to a goal in his last five games, and this isn’t the first time he’s struggled; he went eight games without scoring during the festive period. While Nunez isn’t solely responsible for Liverpool’s decline in the title race, his goal-scoring droughts have been under scrutiny.
Ultimately, Jurgen Klopp’s team has lost important points in recent weeks. In an interview with Premier League Productions, Defoe analyzed Liverpool’s attacking options ahead of the summer transfer window. He identified Diogo Jota as Liverpool’s most proficient finisher and outlined the differences between Jota, Nunez, and Mohamed Salah.
He expressed, “I believe Jota is likely the most proficient finisher. He executes finishes with precision. Salah and Núñez, they tend to shoot rather than finish. Núñez, for instance, had an opportunity to go around the goalkeeper and pass into an empty net in the last play. However, inexplicably, he attempted to chip it over the goalkeeper, which was the wrong decision in that scenario. Consistently missing chances, week after week and game after game, puts you at a disadvantage against teams like Man City and Arsenal who capitalize on these opportunities.”
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