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Arne Slot believes Darwin Nunez allowed his obtrusive miss to have an effect on him an excessive amount of within the 2-2 with Aston Villa and stated his facet have “missed too many probabilities” 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 completely different had the Uruguayan taken a golden alternative shortly after approaching for Diogo Jota within the second half.
After being fed by way of by Domink Szobozlai with a lot of the aim to goal 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 somewhat than critise the 25-year-old for that likelihood, Slot was extra involved with the detrimental impact the ahead allowed it ot have on the remainder of his substitute apearance.
Forward of Sunday’s essential sport in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, the Liverpool boss stated: “I can settle for each miss, particularly from a participant that has scored two crucial targets in opposition to Brentford.
“Within the sport in opposition to Villa, I would favor him to attain, however the phrase ‘likelihood’ says all of it – it’s a ‘likelihood. It’s not 100% positive that the ball goes in.
“However what was a bit tougher for me to just accept was his behaviour after that likelihood. And by ‘behaviour’ I imply I believe it acquired an excessive amount of in his head and he wasn’t the standard Darwin that works his *** off and makes positive he helps the crew.
“I believe he was too disillusioned after lacking that likelihood.”
Slot: Be extra like Endo
Slot pointed to the angle of midfielder Wataru Endo as somehting Nunez ought to attempt to emulate shifting ahead.
“I at all times really consider it’s the very best 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 will not be many gamers that may do that. So it’s not in regards to the likelihood for me, it’s extra in regards to the 20 minutes afterwards that I wish to speak to him about than about him lacking an opportunity.”
Slot: ‘We’ve missed too many probabilities’
Arsenal play a day earlier on Saturday in opposition to 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 probabilities. And what I imply by that’s I don’t assume we’ve stolen many factors. I at all times come again to the Chelsea sport when possibly a draw was possibly a extra truthful outcome.
“However for each different sport I believe 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 have 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 most recent poor lead to 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 facet 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 crew that may play so nicely. They’ve had possibly one or two months because the seven or eight years he’s there now that possibly weren’t the very best – partly due to accidents as nicely.
“They’ve signed three or 4 gamers and I can see them coming again already for those who have a look at the outcome in opposition to Newcastle. What you anticipate is what everybody expects for those who go to the Etihad for those who play in opposition to Metropolis.
“You need to endure as nicely and work actually onerous to maintain them away out of your aim as a result of they’re so, so good in possession. However they face a robust crew as nicely that haven’t misplaced in 22 video games now.”
Trent will get us stage 🎯 #AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/IDerXPnOmA
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 20, 2025
Staff information: Gakpo assessed forward of Metropolis, Bradley and Gomez out
Slot stated “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 will be a “shut name” whether or not he could be concerned on the Etihad.
The Liverpool boss additionally stated he doesn’t anticipate right-back Conor Bradley to make the Metropolis sport 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 tip of the season.
