Liverpool manager Arne Slot helping FSG avoid almighty financial loss

Liverpool boss Arne Slot could help FSG avoid an almighty financial loss on club-record signing Darwin Nunez.

The Uruguayan has failed to hit the heights expected of him since joining the Merseyside outfit, with Nunez having notched up just 33 goals in 100 appearances for the club.

Big things were expected of the striker, not least after he announced himself on the scene with a debut goal against Manchester City in the 2022 Community Shield.

Two years on and the fear is Nunez’s Liverpool career is beginning to stall – something Slot is looking to fix.

The Dutch tactician laid down a marker for Nunez during the week, explaining what he has to do to work his way back into the Liverpool side.

On the ex-Benfica man, Slot revealed: “He needs the same as all the others, work really hard and the goals will come.

“That’s what he did against [AC] Milan, he came in for the team and then as a result of that attackers have goals or assists. It happened with Cody [Gakpo] so if you play for a team like Liverpool you’ll get them [goals and assists].

“For me, it’s the work you do without the ball. He will get his chance in the near future, we play a lot of games, he is fitter and fitter and understands day by day what we want from him. But he’s in competition with Diogo [Jota] who has done well.”

Having been tentatively linked to a move away in the summer, this season feels like a decisive one for Nunez, especially because all players have started on an equal footing under the new boss.

There could be just as much pressure on Slot to get the most out of the underperforming striker, given Liverpool would be taking a huge hit on the £85million fee.

But if Nunez doesn’t improve his form and Slot isn’t able to find a starting role for the 25-year-old, it’s likely to be only a matter of time before low-ball offers are submitted for the attacker.

Nunez is likely to get plenty of opportunities to prove his worth, with Liverpool competing in the expanded Champions League this season.

Couple that with the two domestic cup competitions and yet another arduous league campaign, the rotation will be necessary for Slot this term – Nunez will be keen to make sure he’s the one starting the game, not the one coming off the bench to finish it.