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Tag: Nunez

  • UCL: Nunez gets Slot’s licence to thrill against Lille

    UCL: Nunez gets Slot’s licence to thrill against Lille

    Liverpool boss Arne Slot has challenged Darwin Nunez to prove he is an elite striker as the much-maligned Uruguayan looks to take advantage of Diogo Jota’s latest injury.

    Slot revealed that Jota will be sidelined for a few weeks after suffering a muscle injury in Liverpool’s draw at Nottingham Forest on January 14.

    The Portugal forward’s absence has provided another opportunity for Nunez to finally prove his worth, starting with today’s Champions League tie against French team Lille at Anfield.

    Nunez has struggled to win over both Slot and his predecessor Jurgen Klopp since signing from Benfica for a fee rising to a potential £85 million ($104 million) in 2022.

    The 25-year-old gave a glimpse of his potency with the stoppage-time double that fired Liverpool to a dramatic 2-0 win at Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

    But those were his first top-flight goals since November and he has scored only six times in all competitions this term.

    “I don’t think it’s the first time Darwin has been in this situation when Jota has been out,” Slot told reporters. “But he is in a good place because he scored two against Brentford. We have four strikers who are fit to start and Darwin is one of them.

    “Of course, it increases the chance for Darwin to get more playing time if one is injured and especially if it’s a number nine.”

    Slot admitted recently that he has found it hard to get the best out of a player heralded as one of the world’s brightest young talents when he was at Benfica.

    Urging Nunez to show he was worthy of that hype, Slot added: “The most difficult in football is to find consistency, as a team and an individual. Only a few players are able to be at the same level every few days.

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    “Then there is a big group of players who can play well but not every time. He is in that group. We have one or two who are in the group of the highest standard. That is a nice challenge for him.”

    Liverpool can book their place in the Champions League last 16 if they avoid defeat against Lille.

    The Reds have won all six league phase matches and sit three points clear at the top of the table.

    And despite a recent blip, Liverpool are six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

    Brentford boss Thomas Frank labelled them the world’s best team but while he is flattered by the praise, Slot insisted it is too soon for such glowing tributes.

    “I think it’s far too early to say these things. The Champions League format is different,” he said. “We have to face a lot of teams. Can we judge the league table in the Champions League? Very difficult. But it’s always nice to get compliments.”

    Slot also said it did not matter if Liverpool finish top of the league phase because it will not guarantee an easy last-16 opponent.

    “With this strange new format, I’m not thinking (about) the league table in a way that if you finish number one you get the easiest team,” he said.

    “Paris Saint-Germain is low down but has faced maybe the hardest team in each of their games. Maybe if you end number one you can face them.”

    TODAY’S UCL FIXTURES

    Atalanta vs. Sturm Graz

    Monaco vs. Aston Villa

    Atletico vs. Leverkusen

    Benfica vs. Barcelona

    Bologna vs. Dortmund

    Brugge vs. Juventus

    Crvena Zvezda vs. PSV

    Liverpool vs. Lille

    SK Slovan vs. Stuttgart

  • EPL: Late Nunez double snatches Liverpool win at Brentford

    EPL: Late Nunez double snatches Liverpool win at Brentford

    Substitute Darwin Nunez scored a late double to guide Liverpool to victory at Brentford and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points.

    It looked like Liverpool’s wait for a league win in 2025 was going to stretch to three games until Nunez stepped up in stoppage time.

    Nunez grabbed the opener in the 91st minute with a simple finish from close range after meeting a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

    The Uruguay forward scored again two minutes later, showing patience in a crowded area to round off a counter-attack as Brentford were caught short in defence.

    Despite taking so long to break the deadlock, Liverpool had dominated possession and territory for large periods and were fully deserving of all three points.

    Dominik Szoboszlai saw an effort crash off the top of the crossbar in the first half and Luis Diaz should have made better of an attempt with his head after emerging unmarked at the far post.

    Brentford were happy to sit deep and soak up pressure but struggled to pose any serious threat on the counter, with striker Bryan Mbeumo left isolated.

    Liverpool maintained complete control of the tempo in the latter stages as Brentford dropped ever deeper, but lacked the potency in front of goal which they oozed in the first half of the season until Nunez delivered the decisive blows.

    Victory gives the league leaders further breathing space over second-placed Arsenal, who face Aston Villa at 17:30 GMT, while Brentford stay 11th.