Darwin Nunez, Liverpool’s out-of-sorts striker, had a forgettable night when he replaced Diogo Jota in the 66th minute of his team’s Premier League battle with Aston Villa – and his belatedly deleted social media post the day after their 2-2 draw has raised questions.
Shunned to the bench to make room for Jota in the lone centre striker position, the Uruguayan provided little in his brief appearance in the Midlands, and his point-blank shot that sailed over the crossbar summed up his Liverpool career.
Found brilliantly by Dominik Szoboszlai, the ex-Benfica striker, who is currently one of the highest-paid attackers in the Premier League, failed to convert his chance into a wide-open goal, leaving Liverpool fans in awe.
Fans were irritated by the 25-year-old’s behaviour shortly after the points were shared at Villa Park. Regardless of the outcome, the rest of his teammates thanked the travelling supporters for their unwavering support – except Nunez.
I can accept missing open goals but Nunez was strolling most of the time he was on. Shocking attitude. #LFC pic.twitter.com/znic7ZYpF7
— Asim (@asim_lfc) February 19, 2025
He marched down the tunnel, shirt over shoulder, to express his fury, but this irritated fans. But now, translated into English, his since-deleted social media message insists that he has not given up.
Darwin was the best two, three weeks ago, and he brought us three points, but I was unlucky enough to miss a goal yesterday, and I am once again the “worst” and failure. I don’t fall; I stand up and will never give up. I’m going to give it my all till the last day I have to spend in Liverpool. Resilience!
Darwin Nunez deleted post:
“Two three weeks ago, Darwin was the best, Darwin gave us the three points, but yesterday I was unlucky enough to miss a goal and I am once again the “worst” and the failure. I don't fall, I get up and I'm never going to give up. I'm going to give it… pic.twitter.com/6ULH38eWyv
— The Anfield Talk (@TheAnfieldTalk) February 20, 2025
Nunez, who has been consigned to a backup role under Arne Slot’s watchful eye, has taken to X (previously Twitter) to repost an official statement. It says, “I wasn’t the best three weeks ago, but I’m not the worst today. If I fall, I get back up. You will never see me give up. I’m going to give it my all until the last day I’m here at Liverpool. Resilience!”
Slot on Nunez’s missed open-goal opportunity: “I would prefer him to score, but the word ‘chance’ says it all.”
After the game, Liverpool manager Slot discussed Nunez’s glaring mistake and stated that, while he was not disappointed by the talisman, the Artigas-born star’s weak work ethic, possibly because to the disappointment of missing a golden opportunity, irritated him.
“I’ll remind him that you can miss a chance, but you can’t miss out on workrate. That is the life of a striker; he will miss some chances while scoring others. “It is part of the job of a No 9 to miss when people expect you to score,” the Dutch strategist told MailOnline.
A No 9’s job does not include slowing down his work rate. And that is something we will discuss.
Slot went on to say, “I can accept any miss, especially from a player who scored two very crucial goals away at Brentford and scored for us at home against Villa. I would prefer that he score, but the word ‘chance’ says it all.
