Liverpool players warm-up at St James' Park
Arne Slot will have had lots to ponder on after Wednesday's draw at Newcastle
Head in hands, hands on head, head bowed with hands crossed - just some of the reactions of Liverpool supporters upon Newcastle United’s last-minute equaliser. The win rescued before it was lost again.
Those high up in the away end at St James’ Park were not treated to a swashbuckling show from the Reds, but the comeback act was joy-inducing and made the trip worthwhile all the same. The drive back home may have stirred feelings more akin to defeat than a 3-3 draw.
Yet, Liverpool remain seven points clear at the summit of the Premier League table, are unbeaten away from home and boast the division's best defensive record. And few would say the team has truly found its stride just yet.
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Arne Slot has seen his side snatch victory from the jaws of defeat amid tepid performances several times this season but there were too many chinks in the armour to save them on Wednesday. One of them was not Caoimhin Kelleher.
Indeed his glaring error led to the equaliser but if anyone can be permitted a mistake it is him for all the times he has bailed the defence out. Even on Wednesday, he came to the rescue of Joe Gomez after a poor back pass allowed Anthony Gordon a one-on-one.
Fabian Schar could not have replicated his last-gasp finish from the tightest of angles if he had 99 more attempts. It’s one of those, you might say.
Unfortunately, it’s a saying that’s been attributed all too often to Darwin Nunez. The striker can count himself lucky to have lasted the full match amid his worst display of the season so far.
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool misses a chance whilst under pressure (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
There is so much to like about Nunez, yet so much to shake the head at. His pressing led to the second-half penalty against Manchester City and he always has the ability to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
But there is a reason why he has been affectionately labelled ‘Captain Chaos’ rather than a magician. Indecision and lack of a deft finish cost Liverpool during last season’s run in, scoring just one of his 18 goals after March.
While he may be offered grace for not being able to latch onto Cody Gakpo’s header at full stretch with Nick Pope out at sea, the striker had a great chance to fire home when the ball fell to him in the box a while later, only to lash at it and skew wide. That was one of three shots he had, all off target.
In the same game last season, Nunez scored two thunderbolts to see 10-man Liverpool to an unlikely win. That only adds to this week's frustration.
Curtis Jones reacts towards Darwin Nunez (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Frankly, he is not being clinical enough to offset his general errors but perhaps Liverpool have little other option right now. Diogo Jota will always be the number one pick as striker among current options, but has suffered at least one significant and lengthy setback in each of the past three seasons.
When the Portuguese is fit, he is undroppable and by far the most clinical option centrally. Meanwhile, Luis Diaz looked appetising in the role upon his hat trick against Bayer Leverkusen and well be used again.
But like Gakpo last season, this is still a punt and it is not his natural position. Liverpool supporters might nevertheless be more inclined to give that a go than natural nine Nunez right now given the Uruguayan's lack of sustained output.
The striker dilemma is one that could become a bubbling issue by the summer. A fully fit and never-injured Jota would be idyllic but history perhaps shows that is not realistic.
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota (Image: Getty Images)
Can Slot afford for Nunez to be his back up striker when Jota is out? From now on, it’s on the player himself to show that he can be a part of the head coach’s long term project.
Because head in hands, hands on head and head bowed are just some of the regular reactions from the Liverpool faithful regarding Nunez’s performances of late - and of time long gone by.