Monday, December 23, 2024

Arne Slots sends message to Darwin Nunez over keeping his place in Liverpool side after ending wait for goal

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Arne Slot has told Darwin Nunez to keep scoring after the striker netted on his first start under the new Liverpool manager.

Nunez curled in a sublime third for the Reds as they beat Bournemouth 3-0 at Anfield, with Luis Diaz scoring the other two.

It marked the Uruguayan’s first goal for Liverpool in five months and Slot has suggested he will need to keep on scoring to retain his place up front over Diogo Jota.

“We hope we are adding goals [to his game] because that is what you need from a striker but this work rate was really good,” Slot said.

“We have a lot of good players, a lot of competition, and as long as they keep performing it is a very good thing for me.”

Darwin Nunez scored on his first Liverpool start under Arne Slot (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Darwin Nunez scored on his first Liverpool start under Arne Slot (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Slot was also pleased with the contributions of Diaz – who scored twice to take his Premier League goal tally to five in five games – and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

On Diaz he said: “They were really good finishes but it’s also important what led to the finish.

“They were really aggressive, Bournemouth, so [Ibrahima] Konate understood a ball in behind was a good one to take. For the second Trent made a good run with the ball and Luis finished both off really well.”

“I’m not surprised he [Alexander-Arnold] 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.

“It is normal we win a home game against Bournemouth but it is a tough schedule, and the teams you face are really strong. They made it a hard fight for us so it is good for us to win again and now let’s continue.

“I think it was a good performance, especially with the ball. Quite a lot of shots on goal, a lot of chances, but not as easy as the score probably looks.”

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