Darwin Nunez not involved for Liverpool’s 2-1 win over West Ham on SundayUruguayan striker was said to be ill when news broke of his absenceSpeculation rife that Nunez had bust-up with staff on training ground
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has dismissed allegations of a training ground altercation involving striker Darwin Nunez.
Nunez’s third season at Anfield has been notably disappointing, despite the club’s overall advancement under Slot’s leadership.
In 42 matches across all competitions, many of which he played as a substitute, Nunez has scored only seven goals and missed a vital penalty during Liverpool’s Champions League round of 16 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Nunez was absent from Liverpool’s matchday squad for last Sunday’s 2-1 victory over West Ham United, with his absence initially attributed to illness.
However, there has been speculation suggesting that a disagreement with Slot and his coaching staff was the true reason for his exclusion.
In his recent press conference, Slot firmly rejected these claims, stating:
“He didn’t feel well the day before the match, and he went inside, which prevented him from being part of the team the following day.
“When questioned about whether Nunez had caused any discontent among his teammates and coaching staff due to a lack of effort, the Dutch manager responded:
“No, he didn’t. He left the pitch because he wasn’t feeling himself.
He did not have any words with a staff member.
“Regardless of the veracity of the rumored conflict, it appears increasingly probable that Nunez’s future may not be with the Premier League title contenders.
Struggling to secure a regular starting position ahead of Diogo Jota, Nunez has also found himself sidelined even when the Portugal international was unavailable due to injury, as Slot has frequently opted to utilize either Cody Gakpo or Luis Diaz in a central role—both of whom are generally more suited to playing on the left wing.
Slot’s tendency to favor other players over Nunez is underscored by the striker’s limited playing time in the Premier League. Out of a possible 2,880 minutes, the 25-year-old has only participated in 995 minutes, starting in eight of the 29 matches he has played.
He has managed to score just five goals, two of which were netted in the same match.