Slot should ruthlessly drop Liverpool’s “dreadful” 5/10 ace

Let’s all simply take a second to breathe. At Aston Villa, Liverpool succumbed to their second 2-2 attract three Premier League matches but in addition moved eight factors clear on the high of the desk, albeit with Arsenal holding a sport in hand.

Latest performances have solid a blanket of uncertainty over the pink of Merseyside, however Arne Slot’s aspect are properly value their table-topping place and can proceed to combat tooth and nail for the title over the subsequent few months.

The caveat is that Liverpool face Manchester Metropolis on the Etihad on Sunday earlier than welcoming harmful Newcastle United to Anfield.

However Arsenal are beset with a mountain of harm points and face their very own powerful run within the subsequent few weeks. Liverpool will endure. After which, restore their fluency, their verve.

Nevertheless, sure questions should be raised, with Darwin Nunez’s position on this all-important marketing campaign elevating essential questions.

Darwin Nunez misses the mark – once more

There’s solely a lot a fan can take. Vitality, tenacity, drive, chaos. Nunez embodies all of it – all pertaining to the nice and the unhealthy, in fact.

Nunez was launched within the second half and didn’t notch a objective, stretching his run to 35 matches in all competitions this time period with simply six targets to his identify.

Having performed solely 25 minutes, it should not really feel just like the burden of Liverpool’s dropped factors at Villa Park lay on his shoulders, however the 25-year-old was thwarted by the charging Emi Martinez when performed by means of and, extra agonisingly, skewed a wonderful open objective alternative when deftly performed in by Dominik Szoboszlai.

Social media has been awash with the Uruguay striker’s newest blunder, and maybe probably the most telling half was Slot’s response, turning to the assistant referee and questioning if his participant was offside.

It did not matter, for Nunez had missed a easy end to make it 3-2 to Liverpool, constructing on the momentum from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s rifled end to revive parity.

Saudi Professional League membership Al-Nassr begged the query of Nunez’s availability in January and switch authority Fabrizio Romano confirmed that his sale was a real chance, however FSG in the end did not wish to go away title-chasing Liverpool quick on the season’s midpoint.

Nunez’s personal misfiring has propagated the concept he isn’t match for goal over three campaigns now. It is clear that Slot wants to chop ties together with his thrilling and infuriating participant – sadly, it hasn’t labored out.

He isn’t the one striker to have let his group down. Diogo Jota has endured one other injury-hit season, and whereas he is a first-class finisher, this definitely wasn’t the case towards Unai Emery’s males.

Why Slot should boldly drop Diogo Jota

Final season, Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Carragher stated that Jota is Liverpool’s best-ever goalscorer within the Premier League “by way of pure ending.”

Huge declare, however not with out substance. As per FBref, Jota ranked among the many high 1% of Premier League forwards in 2023/24 for targets scored (0.79) per 90.

He isn’t loved the identical stage of efficiency underneath Slot’s wing, lacking matches as a consequence of harm as soon as once more. Nonetheless, eight targets from 24 matches in all competitions is hardly shameful, however he isn’t taking part in together with his normal fashion for the time being.

Uncharacteristically, Jota summed up Liverpool’s night time as he was performed by means of towards a gappy Villan backline and sliced so extensive that the shot virtually went out for a throw-in. Cue the jeers.

Contrasted with the cool composure and sensible working of Ollie Watkins, Liverpool’s lack of a high central frontman was illustrated. The England star laid the ball off neatly, darted into area, thundered previous Alisson with a well-timed header. The gaps emerged and he snatched his probability greedily.

Nunez didn’t. Jota didn’t. Each forwards claimed extra enticing possibilities however didn’t make them depend, and with Cody Gakpo now set to return from an harm sustained at Goodison Park, Slot must make the change.

Jota may need claimed the help for Salah’s objective however he did not lead the road with the specified confidence. GOAL’s Gill Clark echoed this, branding the Portugal worldwide with a 5/10 match rating.

Jota was even branded “dreadful” by The Athletic correspondent James Pearce after his mishap, including gas to the fireplace that Salah – who in fact bagged his objective and positioned the help for Trent’s essential equaliser – is one thing of a one-man frontline at instances.

Whereas it is arduous to advocate Luis Diaz as being the proper quantity 9 resolution, he does convey fluency to Liverpool’s frontline and facilitates Gakpo and Salah’s successes.

Primarily based on the proof of this irritating contest, the Colombian has graduated to Liverpool’s first-choice at centre-forward and have to be picked as such towards a Man Metropolis aspect that’s at all times going to be harmful.

It is essential to challenge a reminder that Liverpool’s slide in defensive safety is each bit as regarding because the profligacy up entrance. Three clear sheets from 13 Premier League matches is a far cry from Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate’s imperious early type.

It isn’t the be-all and end-all. This was a troublesome fixture and Liverpool nonetheless maintain a commanding lead on the high of the desk. That stated, Slot wants to revive Liverpool’s snap on the high of the ship as a result of, for the time being, issues are usually not trying balanced with Nunez and Jota struggling.

All instructed, there are issues throughout the board – however, all the identical, Liverpool are eight factors clear on the summit as they gear as much as race down the house stretch.

Slot is a top-class supervisor and might be assured in fixing the present out-of-kilter ranges. Nevertheless, he would possibly must make a couple of adjustments, with Jota and Nunez proving at Villa Park that they do not deserve beginning berths towards Pep Guardiola’s outfit.

Associated

Overlook Szoboszlai: Liverpool “monster” is proving to be the subsequent Gerrard

He is solid a legendary profession path for himself.