Arne Slot admits doubts before Liverpool’s late show against Brentford
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Liverpool's Darwin Nunez was mocked by Brentford's fans when he was introduced, before scoring twice in three minutes to secure a 2-0 away English Premier League victory on Jan 18.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – Manager Arne Slot admitted he feared history was repeating itself as Liverpool laboured against Brentford on Jan 18, before substitute Darwin Nunez scored twice in stoppage time to extend the Reds’ English Premier League lead.
Liverpool racked up 35 shots in 90 minutes of regular time, with the visitors unable to overcome Brentford’s low block and dogged defending.
Back-to-back league draws against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest had seemingly opened the door for second-placed Arsenal to reel in pace-setters Liverpool.
But Nunez, who was mocked by the Brentford fans when he was introduced, scored twice in three minutes with the visitors’ 36th and 37th shots to secure a dramatic 2-0 victory.
Slot told reporters he had feared his team’s profligacy was becoming a costly habit, but was glad he was wrong.
He said: “Yes, of course I had doubts about that because, before we scored the two goals, it felt as if I was looking at the same game again and again and again... so many times in recent weeks, against Tottenham (Hotspur in the League Cup) as well, we missed a lot of chances.
“Against Forest we missed a lot, so it would have been a bit surprising if I felt ‘OK, after all these chances missed today, we will probably score in the last five minutes’.
“But the boys, the players proved me wrong again.”
Slot, however, said Liverpool’s recent performances did not suggest they were going through a spell of poor form.
He added that based on statistics such as expected goals, “nothing changed with us between now and the start of the season”.
“What you do see is that it is, at this moment of time, a bit harder for us to convert our chances into goals,” he said.
The absence of Diogo Jota, who scored the equaliser against Forest on Jan 14, will not help on that front but Slot backed Nunez to keep contributing.
“He’s having a good season,” he said.
“He scores goals, he works very hard for the team, he assists, but he’s in competition with a lot of good players, so that’s why he’s not every single game on the pitch. But I’m very happy with him.”
Nunez has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League in January after largely failing to deliver on his £85 million (S$141.6 million) price tag since joining from Benfica in 2022.
The 25-year-old has fallen behind Luis Diaz and Jota as Slot’s preferred centre-forward this season, but the Dutchman praised Nunez’s ability to make a difference off the bench.
“He’s always having a lot of impact when he comes in,” added Slot.
“He brings energy and power. To have someone like Darwin is nice to have.”
Former Premier League Golden Boot winner Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio: “Arne Slot said in the week that he couldn’t get Darwin Nunez firing.
“What an important goal that could be for Liverpool. He’s not going to miss those sort of opportunities.
“That’s how you win titles. Going to the end, fighting until the end and taking your opportunities.” REUTERS, AFP
