Arne Slot will talk to Darwin Nunez about what he saw as a disappointing fall in the working speed after the Liverpool striker “got too much in his head” after his precious Miss in Aston Villa.
The Reds could not open a 10-point lead on Arsenal at the Premier League summit when the journey to Villa Park from Wednesday ended in a Helter skelter 2-2 draw.
Villa had the chances of getting it late, but NUNEZ's failed chance shortly after Liverpool was the same, it was most striking, with the Uruguay International missing an open goal after he had acted by Dominik Szoboszlai.
Slot's frustration at that time was as clear as his disappointment the next morning about the dip of the attacker in the execution.
“I can accept every Miss, especially from a player who has scored two very important goals against Brentford, who scores for us in the home game against Villa,” he said before Sunday's trip to Manchester City, Live on Sky Sports.
“I would rather he score, but the word 'Chance' says it all. It's an opportunity, so it's not 100 percent sure that the ball goes inside, and players miss opportunities.
“I can accept that, but what was a bit harder for me to accept was his behavior after that chance. I think he helps the team.
“I think he was too disappointed after he had missed that chance and maybe we will never know, we will never find out – that's why he was only a break short after that [when he had another chance].
“I always really believe it is best to have that of Wata [Wataru Endo] Mindset and what I mean by that is that he does not stop playing all season, continues and when we need it, he is ready.
“That is very difficult. There are not many players who can do this, so it's not about the chance. It is more about the 20 minutes after which I want to talk to him, [rather] Then he misses a chance. “
Asked if it was vital to emphasize NUNEZ about his important role for the rest of the season, Slot said: “Yes, I will tell him that too.
“But I think the most important message is that you can miss a chance, but you can't miss the working speed. That is a more important message for me that I tell him because that is the life of striker.
“He knows. He is 25, he will probably have missed a few chances in his career and he would probably have scored a few.
“Of course we would like to see it differently, but it is part of the work of a no. 9, part of your life that you sometimes miss where people expect you to score.
“But it is not part of the work of a No. 9 to delay in the working speed and that is something we will talk about.”
Nunez followed the Miss and said: “I was not the best three weeks ago and I am not the worst now. If I fall, I get up. You will never see me give up.
“I'm going to give it all until the last day I am here in Liverpool. Resilience!”
Slot stood in front of the cameras only 12 hours after he was confronted with the media in Villa Park, where replacement Conor Bradley decreased in the late way with a problem.
Liverpool's right back has been set to miss the journey to Etihad, but Cody Gakpo could return after missing two games due to injury.
“Let's look,” said Slot of Dutch International. “I hope. I'm not 100 percent sure. He has not yet trained with the team. Maybe he is doing it a bit today [Thursday]I don't know exactly. It will be a good call.
“We don't know yet [with Bradley] But it would be completely surprised to me if he is involved in the Sunday game or the Wednesday match against Newcastle.
“Joe Gomez was operated on for his hamstring injury, so he's gone for a long time. He may come back just before the end of the season.”
“I feel for Nunez – he was Liverpool's hero in Brentford in January”
Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O'Connor:
“I feel a bit before Nunez – it was a striking miss, but we would not emphasize it as Liverpool had better defended against the free kick that led to Villas Equalizer and for the second goal.
“At the same time, we saw the movement of Liverpool of the game, a great ball from Conor Bradley to Szoboszlai, who played the perfect ball for Nunez who came in from the left pole. He was under pressure from Axel Disasi but finished Blazing high over the bar .
“That is four big chances that are now missing in the Premier League this season for NUNEZ. A 20 percent shot conversion rate has given him four goals and that has brought an average playing time of 42 minutes per appearance. He has made 21 performances so far This season in the competition.
“He has stated on social media that he will come back stronger, he will work harder. Don't forget that he was the hero in Brentford a month ago, which received both late goals that all received the three points for Liverpool.
“But that message on social media will be music to Slot's ears as he said that the Miss against Aston Villa is forgiven, but what he is disappointed about is the way in which Nunez lets it influence him and the dip in his working speed afterwards.”
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