Liverpool won 1-0 at Girona in the Champions League on Tuesday night but Darwin Nunez missed chances to score
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GIRONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 10: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at Montilivi Stadium on December 10, 2024 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
Darwin Nunez looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between Girona and Liverpool
(Image: Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
It was another good if not straightforward night for Liverpool. But the same could not be said of their striker Darwin Nunez.
The spotlight was always going to be on the 25-year-old after his club-record £85m move from Benfica in the summer of 2022. But after two decent opening campaigns at Anfield, which yielded 15 and 18 goals in 42 and 54 appearances respectively, Nunez is struggling to kick on under new boss Arne Slot.
The Uruguay international forward endured another difficult evening against Girona on Tuesday as his missed two big chances in a largely ineffectual display that could threaten his place in Slot's team, especially now that Diogo Jota is closing in on full fitness.
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The blank means Nunez has now failed to score in his last five matches - four of which have come from the start - and he has just three goals to his name in 19 games in all competitions so far this season.
Liverpool head coach Slot defended the striker after the victory over Girona, which ensured his side maintained their 100% winning start to the Champions League. But Reds 2005 Champions League winner Luis Garcia made a point afterwards that many supporters will begrudgingly agree with.
“It’s the story with Darwin Nunez,” said Garcia on ESPN FC’s YouTube channel. “We all agree - his work rate is fantastic. He’s helping the team because he’s always trying to push the opponent but we’re missing the last part - the scoring rate.
“It’s something we’ve been waiting for for the past years but it’s not arriving. He can score goals but he’s not a player who can maybe score 25-30 goals.
“Something is missing there and we’re still waiting. Every single game he gets one, two, or three chances and he’s missing the last part.
“He’s missing a little bit of composure in the last moment.”
Nunez netted 34 goals in 44 appearances in his final season at Benfica, including two against Liverpool in the Champions League.
But while he will struggle to get close to that tally for the Reds this season, his manager still has his back.
Slot said after the Girona win, which was secured by Mohamed Salah's 16th goal of the campaign: “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 good thing is that we have many players that can score for us - today Mo again.
“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.”