Arne Slot argues with reporter about Darwin Nunez

It was another night of celebration for Arne Slot as he became the first Liverpool manager in history to win eight of his first nine games, but the 2-0 win over Bologna was soured by a reporter who tried to highlight Darwin Nunez’s contribution to the to trivialize the competition. the press conference after the match, something that Slot would not simply pass up.

The Dutchman, who had already explained what he had said to Ryan Gravenberch after the final whistle, listened carefully to why the reporter felt that the Uruguayan had simply not been good enough in Wednesday evening’s match and earlier in the 2024/2025 season , before launching a fervent defense of his player.

Arne Slot launches a fervent defense of Darwin Nunez

“You also have to look at the playing time he got. I think it was his first start of the season, so I don’t look at it the way you do and just concentrate on the individual,” said Slot.

“I don’t think we created many chances for him in the first hour because we missed our last pass several times.

“(…) Today he was also involved in a team that was very hard and strict on him, and his teammates did not always find him when they could have, so it is a bit early to say that after three games he was alone but scored. An.”

Arne Slot launches a fervent defense of Darwin Nunez after criticism of the @LFC striker?

? https://t.co/EUj5yWdcTq pic.twitter.com/HIHxjKKdoK

— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) October 2, 2024

Every striker obviously thrives on service, so Slot is right to suggest that Nunez’s lack of goals is as much a failure of his teammate when it comes to not getting the balls in.

That said, there was some brilliant play on the night, with a ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold to Luis Diaz going largely unnoticed.

While it is apparently true that the player himself must also improve, there must be recognition for the number of minutes played.

Transfermarkt notes that Nunez has scored one goal in six games in all competitions, but if you decide to delve deeper into the details, the player has only played 246 minutes in total, which is equivalent to just over two and a half games .

If we put that into perspective, the goals overview therefore looks very different.