“Maybe you’re a better football player than I was in the past” - Arne Slot singles out Liverpool star who proved him wrong for special praise
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said that Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez amazed him in their 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday, September 21. The Reds welcomed the Cherries at Anfield in their fifth Premier League game of the 2024-25 campaign. They comfortably won to move to the summit of the Premier League table for the time being.
Luis Diaz scored a brace for the hosts. Darwin Nunez got himself on the scoresheet in the 37th minute as he was handed his first start of the campaign against Andoni Iraola’s men. The Uruguayan striker cut in from the right and arrowed a curling shot into the far corner via the post to put the contest to bed before the halftime whistle.
Meanwhile, Arne Slot confessed that he thought Nunez shouldn’t have shot the ball when he shot it. In the post-most conference of the game, the Dutch manager said (via Liverpool World):
“My first instinct when he shot was: ‘Why does he shoot, why don’t you keep on dribbling?’ because he made the ball free and I think the defender was on the ground. But then a fraction of a second later, when I saw the ball went in off the post, I was like: ‘OK, maybe you are a better football player than I was in the past’. Good choice from him.”
With Slot being impressed with Darwin Nunez’s goal, it remains to be seen if he will start him in Liverpool’s next games. The 25-year-old seems to have gone down in the pecking order, as Diogo Jota has often been the one spearheading the attack.
Nunez joined Liverpool from Benfica for a reported fee of €100 million in 2022. To date, he has scored 33 goals and registered 17 assists in 100 games across competitions for the Merseyside club.
Arne Slot says what Trent Alexander-Arnold can do to make him happy after Liverpool beat Bournemouth
Arne Slot has pointed out what Trent Alexander-Arnold needs to do if he wants to permanently secure his position as Liverpool’s right back. Since Slot's arrival, the clash against Bournemouth was the second game where Alexander-Arnold played every minute. Conor Bradley seems to be giving him a run for his money.
The England right-back was one of the players who impressed in Arne Slot’s side today as he assisted Liverpool’s second goal. He was also solid defensively. After the match, Slot pointed out what the 25-year-old needs to permanently secure his place. He told BBC:
''If Trent could marry both attack and defence in the weeks to come, he could ‘make him very happy. I’m not surprised he is involved in so many goals because his quality is outstanding.
''But what I also liked today was how he defended. If he can combine those two things he makes me really happy.”
The Reds will next host West Ham United in the EFL Cup third round on Wednesday, September 25.