Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has opened up about the crucial support he receives from Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan forward has struggled for form throughout the season despite the Reds continuing their dominant streak in the Premier League to move 15 points clear of Arsenal.
On Saturday, Nunez was back among the goals as he played a crucial role in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Southampton. After surprisingly finding themselves a goal behind against relegation strugglers Southampton, a sharp finish from Nunez brought the game level before Mohamed Salah scored a brace from the penalty spot. In a season that has seen the 25-year-old regularly used as a substitute, Nunez has scored seven goals, trailing last season's count by 11. However, Suarez, who was prolific during his time with Liverpool, remains a guiding force for his countryman Nunez, particularly during tough times.
"Yes, we always talk. Luis always shows up when things are going badly," Nunez told TNT Sports Mexico. "He doesn't like to appear much when things are going well. And that says a lot about him, about his character and quality as a person. Whenever we can, we chat a bit about football and life in general."
Nunez's standout performance against Southampton, which also saw him earn Liverpool a penalty, garnered praise from his former Uruguay team-mate Suarez, who posted on Instagram: "Clear goalscorer! YNWA."
Liverpool boss Slot was also effusive about Nunez, having previously demanded a better reaction from the striker following a huge missed chance against Aston Villa last month. “That is also the life of a number nine,” Slot explained. “You go from missing a chance to scoring an important goal to missing a chance again. But today, especially in the second half. you also saw the work rate he can bring to the team.”
Coming off a stretch of form that included Nunez getting the assist during their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain last week, Nunez remained measured as he discussed the path ahead. "First of all, I'm very happy. I'm happy for the team that has been doing things well," he said. "Today it was a bit tough to get the three points, but we managed to pull through.
"We need to keep going; this isn't over yet. There are many matches ahead and we all know the Premier League is very difficult, but we have to keep working. Now we need to focus on the Champions League match [against PSG on Tuesday] and try to recover to be in good shape for the game."