Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez will train on Friday but no decision has yet been made on their availability for Liverpool’s game against AFC Bournemouth.
Gomez has missed the Reds’ last eight matches because of a hamstring injury, while Jota has not featured since scoring the equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest in mid-January.
Nunez, meanwhile, was ruled out of Wednesday’s loss at PSV Eindhoven due to illness and Arne Slot was asked on Friday morning whether the trio are ready to return in Saturday’s Premier League visit to Vitality Stadium.
The head coach told the media: “All three of them are in training today so then the question is, ‘Are they already far enough to join us towards Bournemouth?’
“That’s something we have to wait and see today because we have probably also more than 20 players available. We always have more than 20 available but the ones that are mostly there.
“So, we have to make the smartest decision for them, but also for winning the game tomorrow.”
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Injury and fitness news: Latest on Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is set to miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury during a training session. The 24-year-old underwent surgery and is expected to be out of action for several months.
Meanwhile, Diogo Jota is nearing a return to full fitness after being sidelined with a foot injury. The Portuguese forward has been training with the team and could be available for selection in the coming weeks.
Benfica striker Darwin Nunez is also on the road to recovery after suffering a muscle injury. The Uruguayan international is working hard to regain his fitness and is hopeful of returning to action soon.
Stay tuned for more updates on these players as they continue their rehabilitation and aim to make a successful comeback on the field.
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Fitness news: Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota, and Darwin Nunez
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Soccer injury news: Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez
Premier League injury updates: Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez
Latest updates on Liverpool’s Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota injuries
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Injury news roundup: Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez
Arne Slot admits he is yet to “bring the best out of” Darwin Nunez, explaining that Liverpool’s No. 9 is “still working on” how to be effective against a low block.
Nunez could be brought back into the starting lineup as Liverpool visit Brentford on Saturday, which would come after a run of five games without a goal.
The Uruguayan has found the back of the net just once in his last 12 appearances, that being against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, and he subsequently lost his place up front to Luis Diaz.
But with Diaz ill in the buildup and Diogo Jota picking up a knock, Nunez may be called upon at the Gtech, with Slot insisting he has not lost faith.
Speaking before the trip to west London, however, Liverpool’s head coach admitted he has not yet figured out how to “bring the best out of” his centre-forward.
“When things are not perfect there are always a lot of things that are being brought up that don’t have so much to do with what is going on,” he told reporters including the Mail‘s Lewis Steele.
“Darwin is a striker we have to use in a certain way and we were not able yet to bring the best out of him this season.
“Against Accrington Stanley again you saw that he has a lot of pace but, unfortunately for him, most teams sit back a lot against us.
“If you look back at the goals he scored for us, I remember the one against Villa when he went around the goalkeeper on a fast break, that is his main strength – he has other qualities as well – but we are still working on getting him in the best possible positions against a low block.
“That involves the right timings, the right crosses, the right position to start from and making the right run.”
However, Slot also claimed that the way Nunez is handled by opposition defenders has reduced how effective he can be, hinting that referees are too lenient.
“I also see, and I don’t know if other people see this, the way teams defend our No. 9 is something you have to give credit to the other teams for,” he continued.
“It’s never ‘here Darwin, you can score’. Every time we put in a cross I see a defender all over him.
“I see it, referees unfortunately don’t.
“It’s more difficult to score against a team like Forest because every time we had a chance they had six, seven, eight, nine or 10 players in the box.”
Slot did, though, maintain his view that: “Darwin will score his goals. He already did and he will again.”
Liverpool FC manager Arne Slot has admitted that he has yet to unlock the full potential of striker Darwin Nunez. Despite the Uruguayan’s obvious talent and potential, Slot believes that he has not been able to bring out the best in Nunez so far.
Speaking to reporters after Liverpool’s recent match, Slot said, “Darwin is a fantastic player with immense talent, but I haven’t managed to bring the best out of him yet. He has all the tools to be a top striker for us, but I need to find the right way to get the best out of him.”
Nunez has shown flashes of brilliance since joining Liverpool, but has struggled for consistency and has often been overshadowed by other players in the squad. Slot is confident that with the right guidance and tactics, Nunez can fulfill his potential and become a key player for the team.
“I have no doubt that Darwin has what it takes to succeed at this level. It’s just a matter of finding the right approach and helping him to reach his full potential,” Slot added.
Liverpool fans will be hoping that Slot can unlock Nunez’s full potential soon, as they look to challenge for trophies and compete at the highest level. Only time will tell if Nunez can fulfill his promise and become a star for the Reds.
Arne Slot has admitted Liverpool have struggled to utilise Darwin Núñez’s strengths this season because of problems they encounter against deep-lying defences.
The Uruguay international, Liverpool’s record signing at £85m, has scored four goals and started only 14 of Slot’s 31 matches. Núñez missed Tuesday’s draw at Nottingham Forest through suspension but could feature at Brentford on Saturday with Diogo Jota an injury doubt again.
Núñez’s toils have raised questions over his long-term future. But Slot has backed the 25-year-old to deliver for the Premier League leaders and claimed there is collective responsibility for the striker’s output.
“Darwin is a striker we have to use in a certain way and we were not able yet to bring the best out of him this season,” said the head coach. “Against Accrington Stanley again you saw he has a lot of pace but, unfortunately for him, most teams sit back a lot against us. I
“If you look back at the goals he scored for us, I remember the one against [Aston] Villa when he went around the goalkeeper on a fast break, that is his main strength – he has other qualities as well – but we are still working on getting him in the best possible positions against a low block. That involves the right timings, the right crosses, the right position to start from and making the right run.”
Slot also believes Núñez has not received sufficient protection from referees this season. The Dutchman, who revealed Jota “felt a niggle” during his 31-minute outing at Forest, said: “The way teams defend our No 9 is something you have to give them credit for. It’s never: ‘Here Darwin, you can score.’ Every time we put in a cross I see a defender all over him. I see it, referees unfortunately don’t.
“For us, in general, it’s more difficult to score against a team like Forest because every time we had a chance they had six, seven, eight, nine or 10 players standing in the 18-yard box. And the one time [Chris] Wood had a chance he was there almost on his own. We weren’t really close to the ball. They only had one chance, we had 15. But with the 15 we had there was always someone close to the ball or all over one of our players. Darwin will score his goals. He already did and he will again.”
A collection of Liverpool supporter groups, meanwhile, have urged the club not to “kill the Kop” by alienating fans through rising ticket prices. Liverpool are to meet fans on Monday to discuss next season’s ticket prices having been criticised for a lack of consultation over last year’s 2% increase.
Before the meeting, Spirit of Shankly, Spion Kop 1906, the Official Liverpool Supporter Clubs’ Network, Liverpool Women Supporters’ Club and cultuRED have written an open letter to the managing director, Andy Hughes, calling for immediate action to reduce ticket prices. It asks that “the club acknowledges and protects the essential role of supporters in sustaining the culture and legacy of Liverpool FC. We do not want prices to kill the Kop or deter passionate, generational supporters from attending matches at Anfield.”
Liverpool have not got the best out of Darwin Núñez, admits Arne Slot
In a recent interview, Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted that the club has not been able to fully unlock the potential of striker Darwin Núñez. Despite the Uruguayan forward showing glimpses of his talent, Slot believes that there is still more to come from Núñez.
Núñez, who joined Liverpool in a big-money move last summer, has struggled to consistently perform at the level expected of him. Slot attributes this to a lack of understanding between the player and his teammates, as well as Núñez’s struggles with adapting to the physicality of the Premier League.
However, Slot remains confident that Núñez has the ability to become a key player for Liverpool in the future. The manager is working closely with the striker to help him improve his game and believes that with time and patience, Núñez will start to deliver on his potential.
Liverpool fans will be hoping that Núñez can start to fulfill his promise sooner rather than later, as the club looks to challenge for silverware in the coming seasons. With Slot’s guidance and support, there is no doubt that Núñez has the talent to become a star player for Liverpool.
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has dismissed suggestions that Darwin Núñez is struggling for confidence amid reports linking the striker with a move to Saudi Arabia.
The Uruguay international has managed just two goals in 15 Premier League appearances this season, with his last goal in the competition coming against Aston Villa in November.
There had been speculation that Núñez could be set for a move to the Saudi Pro League this month, however those reports are understood to be wide of the mark, and Liverpool have not yet received any January bids for the 25-year-old.
Asked whether the striker is low on confidence, Slot said: “It is not my perception that he’s struggling with self-confidence.
“He was involved against Accrington Stanley for the first goal, he was involved against Fulham in the goal [Diogo] Jota scored and he scored one against Southampton. After that, he didn’t have many starts.
“For me, it’s the life of a striker. Sometimes you score, sometimes you don’t. He hasn’t started every single game. The most important thing is that we as a team are able to score every single game and there are only two games this season when we didn’t score.
“That tells me we have goals in our team. Darwin will score his goals like he did for this club already. I don’t see him struggling that much and he’s still been involved with goals.”
Núñez’s return from suspension has come at a good time for Liverpool, with Jota a doubt for Liverpool’s trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.
The Portugal international scored just 22 seconds after coming off the bench against Forest but was absent from training on Thursday and could miss the clash with Thomas Frank’s side
“It’s not sure that he will be available for tomorrow,” Slot said.
“He felt a little niggle during half-hour he was in [against Forest], he could finish the game but he was complaining [about it] after it. That’s why he didn’t train on Thursday.”
The Liverpool boss also insisted that his team have the necessary tools to compete in the Premier League, despite the club’s spending not reaching the levels of some of their biggest rivals, including that of reigning champions Manchester City.
“We know how good we have to be every single day to compete in this league,” Slot said. “It is not about this club [City], Chelsea have also spent £1.2 billion, Manchester United have spent an incredible amount.
“Every team spends a lot of money over here, that’s why it is such an interesting league to be a part of. Some seasons this club spends more, other seasons other clubs do. That’s what makes it so intense and so difficult to win this league. That is also why we all want to be here, we want to compete against the best.
“We are very happy with the team we have at the moment and are still able to compete with these teams who are spending an incredible amount of money.”
Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez not low on confidence – Arne Slot
Liverpool’s new signing Darwin Núñez has impressed manager Arne Slot with his confidence and determination on the pitch. The Uruguayan striker has settled in quickly at Anfield and has already made a positive impact on the team.
Speaking to reporters, Slot praised Núñez for his work ethic and self-belief, stating that the player is not lacking in confidence despite the pressure of playing for a top club like Liverpool. “Darwin is a very confident player who believes in his abilities. He has shown great determination and drive in training and matches, and I have no doubt that he will continue to perform at a high level for us,” said Slot.
Núñez, who joined Liverpool from Benfica in the summer transfer window, has quickly become a fan favorite with his impressive performances and goal-scoring ability. Fans are excited to see what the talented striker can achieve in the red shirt, and it seems that Núñez himself is ready to rise to the challenge.
With the backing of his manager and the support of the fans, Darwin Núñez is poised to make a significant impact at Liverpool this season. His confidence and determination will be key as the team aims for success in both domestic and European competitions.
