Liverpool manager Arne Slot has recently criticized Darwin Núñez, highlighting the Uruguayan's lack of effort as one of the team's key issues in recent games, even more than his finishing problems.

Núñez came under heavy scrutiny for his performance in the loss to Aston Villa, where he missed several clear chances, including one with the goal wide open. Slot didn't hesitate to express his frustration: "I helped him by telling him it’s okay to miss a chance, but this was the second consecutive game where I wasn’t happy with his effort—neither against the Wolves nor against Villa," said Slot this Wednesday in a press conference before the match against Newcastle United.

"I can’t accept that a player doesn’t give it his all. That’s clear. I can accept it once, but twice is too much. If you miss a chance, you have to fight for the team. I’m not saying he didn’t, but he hasn’t been the Darwin we all know and love. That’s because he usually works so hard."

How Has Núñez's Season Been?

So far, Darwin Núñez has played 36 games this season for Liverpool, scoring six goals and providing five assists. This is his third season at Anfield, and it has been his weakest in terms of goal production. Despite the criticism, he still has twelve league games ahead, plus the League Cup final and the Champions League, where Liverpool will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. In his first season (2022-2023), Núñez scored fifteen goals across all competitions, and last year he improved with 18 goals.

An Uncertain Future

Núñez, who came through the ranks at Peñarol in Uruguay, was bought by Almería in Spain in 2019 for a record fee and then transferred to Benfica in 2020. In June 2022, Liverpool signed him for 75 million euros plus add-ons (around 100 million in total), setting a historic record for a Uruguayan player. However, his performance in his third season in England is now under scrutiny, and he has a chance to redeem himself in the upcoming crucial challenges.