Darwin Nunez's scoreless streak hit a fifth straight game - and seventh if you include two appearances for Uruguay- during Liverpool's surprisingly nervy 1-0 victory over Girona in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Manager Arne Slot continues to trust the 25-year-old striker to lead the line even though he "missed a few chances," according to the Dutch manager.
Nunez managed a pair of shots on target but completed just four of his eight passes and logged only 16 touches. He was substituted in the 72nd minute for Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool won thanks to a Mohamed Salah penalty conversion in the 63rd and remained top of the UEFA Champions League Group Phase with six wins in six matches.
Slot plenty to say about his forward line even though it generated 15 shots, five strikes on target, and 1.89 xG (including Salah's penalty).
"What I can agree on is that he missed a few chances," Slot said. "Then it's always the question: does this have anything to do with low confidence or is this a situation where he's in at the moment?"
"I think every striker all around the world has periods where every ball goes in, and sometimes he has a period where you try so hard but you're not able to score," the Dutch manager continued.
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC
Nunez failed to score in a fifth straight game for Liverpool on Tuesday (Image: Getty Images)
Nunez lined up in a front three flanked by Salah on the right and Luis Diaz on the left. The red-hot Gakpo once again came off the bench while both Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa remained out with injuries.
"The good thing is that we have many players that can score for us – today Mo again," Slot said. "I would have loved to see Darwin score because I think every striker wants to score [and] needs goals.
"That's why I kept him in for quite a long time. He was a threat but unfortunately, he couldn't score."
Nunez may lose his grip on the center-forward position when Jota returns from injury. “Diogo Jota is close to being back,” Slot said ahead of the suspended Everton game. The Portuguese striker has now missed 11 straight contests.
Nunez and Liverpool will look to improve when the side take on Fulham on Saturday in a Premier League clash.