Arne Slot sets the record straight on Darwin Nunez amid Liverpool exit claims

Arne Slot says he has no concerns over Darwin Nunez in the wake of fresh speculation over the Liverpool striker's future.

The Uruguay star, 25, has struggled for goals since Slot's arrival on Merseyside and started the season behind Diogo Jota in the pecking order, while Luis Diaz has also played centrally under the Dutchman this term.

The Reds paid in the region of £85million to bring the No.9 to the Premier League from Benfica in the summer of 2022. But Nunez has just four goals to his name this term and was recently linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

But Slot leapt to the defence of Nunez in his press conference on Friday when he was questioned by reporters - and he doesn't believe that the striker is suffering from any sort of confidence crisis.

"It's your perception, not mine that he is struggling for confidence," Slot said ahead of Liverpool's meeting with

"He was involved in goals against Accrington and Fulham and he scored v Southampton. So for me it's the life of a striker, sometimes you score, sometimes you don't and he hasn't started every week.

"We score every game except for Spurs in the Cup, so that tells me we have goals in our team. Darwin will score like he has done already. I don't see him struggling that much as you see it."

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

While Slot is still backing Nunez, others have questioned whether he is the right man to lead the line for a team who are on course to win the Premier League and challenge for Champions League glory this term.

Club legend Robbie Fowler questioned Nunez shortly before links to Saudi Arabia emerged, with the Kop idol saying he wasn't convinced the striker was a Liverpool player.

He told ITV after the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley: "We're saying the same things now as we were two or three years ago [about Nunez]. He's raw, he's this, he's that. You can't keep saying that. For me, the more I see him the more I think he's not a Liverpool player. People might have a go at me for saying this because he works hard, you're not signing a player because he works hard.

"That should be a prerequisite anyway. You've got to come here and score goals. I know he's a fan favourite for what he puts in, but at the time we're talking now you've got to perform better and do better in that Liverpool shirt."

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