Liverpool's Darwin Nunez faces renewed scrutiny over his finishing abilities after a crucial miss in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Aston Villa, which prevented the Reds from extending their Premier League lead to 10 points.
The Uruguayan striker, who joined Liverpool for an initial £64m in 2022, blazed over from six yards with an open goal - a chance that carried an expected goals value (xG) of 0.75, meaning it should have been converted 75% of the time. Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler described it on TNT Sports as "one of the worst we've seen this year."
"I wasn't the best three weeks ago, and I'm not the worst now," Nunez reflected on his performance, referring to his recent heroics at Brentford where he scored two stoppage-time goals in a 2-0 victory.
Head coach Arne Slot expressed concern not just about the miss itself but its psychological impact on Nunez. "I can accept every miss, especially from a player that scored two very important goals against Brentford," Slot said. "What was a bit harder for me to accept was his behaviour after that chance. I think it got too much in his head and he wasn't the usual Darwin that works his ass off and helps the team."
The statistics paint a concerning picture of Nunez's efficiency in front of goal. While he impressed at Benfica with 34 goals in 41 appearances during the 2021-22 season, his performance metrics at Liverpool have been less impressive. His current shot conversion rate of 10.3% across all competitions falls significantly behind teammates Mohamed Salah (22.3%), Cody Gakpo (22.2%), and Luis Diaz (21%).
BBC Sport columnist Fara Williams offers a stark assessment: "When he came in, he became a fans' favourite just because of the work-rate that he gives. But, on the flip side, his composure in front of goal has never been good. When you are at a big club, it is what you are measured on. Is he good enough to be in a Liverpool team that is competing on all fronts? Probably not."
The missed opportunity could prove costly in the title race, as Arsenal can now reduce Liverpool's lead to five points if they defeat West Ham on Saturday. Liverpool, having played one more game than Arsenal, face challenging fixtures against Manchester City and Newcastle United in the coming days.
The debate about Nunez's future at Liverpool continues to intensify. Mo Stewart, a sports journalist from The Anfield Wrap, suggests, "I think he knows the narrative around him, and I think that's part of it, it almost feels like he's playing for his Liverpool career. He knows that he needs to have at least one or two big moments, big contributions if he wants to stay here."
While some fans defend Nunez, pointing out that other players like Diogo Jota and Marcus Rashford have also been wasteful, others are losing patience. "Really, really tired of Nunez now," one fan commented. "Yes, he 'works hard', but he's playing for Liverpool in the Premier League. That shouldn't be a brag, it's mandatory. He's a very poor finisher and has been the star of his own catalogue of missed opportunities."
