Liverpool boss Arne Slot has revealed how he plans to improve Darwin Nunez’s goalscoring fortunes this season.
The Uruguayan arrived at Anfield from Benfica in a deal worth up to £85million in June 2022.
However, 27 big chances missed last term – the second-most in the Premier League – highlights the frustration surrounding Nunez.
Nunez also was also flagged offside 33 times in the previous league campaign, five more than Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson who was second.
Although Nunez has 20 goals from 65 league appearances for Liverpool, his expected goals figure (xG) for his two seasons is 33.56, indicating he has vastly underperformed.
It hasn’t all been bad news for Nunez, who improved his goal tally from his first season to his second – managing 18 goals and 13 assists in all competitions last term, building on his debut tally of 15 goals and four assists.
Slot will be hoping he can keep the trend going for a third, and when asked how he would get the best out of the misfiring frontman, the manager declared it would require a team effort.
But once those chances present themselves, the Dutchman backed Nunez to bury them.
“Again, I think every individual benefits from team performance,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Reds’ season opener against Ipswich.
“If we, as a team, can bring our attackers – not only him but also the other ones – as much as we can in dangerous positions, these players will score goals.
“That’s what we’ve seen in pre-season, where we even scored goals out of smaller chances.
“It’s up to us to bring him or Diogo [Jota] or other attackers as much as we can into promising positions for them and then he, like all the others, will score their goals.”
As it stands, Jota is likely to start up top for Liverpool in their season opener against newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
The 27-year-old has emerged as Slot’s first choice up top throughout pre-season, with Nunez set to pack a punch from the bench.
However, it may not be long before Slot turns to the fiery South American to start games as his relentless runs in behind could suit the Dutchman’s style of play.
