Former Liverpool player Steve Nicol believes that forward Darwin Nunez may struggle to find opportunities in the starting lineup under new head coach Arne Slot. Nunez was left on the bench in the team's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town, while starters Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah both scored. With Jota in good form and Nunez previously struggling for consistency, it remains to be seen if the Uruguayan will have a long-term future under Slot's reign.
Darwin Nunez Faces Competition for Starting Spot under New Liverpool Manager
Former Liverpool player Steve Nicol has raised concerns about the prospects of striker Darwin Nunez under new manager Arne Slot. Nicol believes that Nunez may struggle to break into the starting lineup due to the form of Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.
Background
Nunez arrived at Liverpool from Benfica in the summer of 2022 for a club-record fee of £85 million. The Uruguayan international initially struggled to justify his price tag, scoring just one goal in his first 10 Premier League appearances.
However, Nunez has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, scoring in Liverpool's last two games and providing an assist against Aston Villa. Despite his recent form, Nicol believes that Nunez may still face difficulties in securing a regular starting spot.
Nicol's Concerns
According to Nicol, Nunez's lack of consistency could be a major obstacle for him under Slot. The former Liverpool defender said: "He's got to show that he can score goals consistently. He's had some good games, he's had some bad games. He's got to find that level of consistency."
Nicol also pointed to the form of Jota as a factor that could limit Nunez's opportunities. The Portuguese forward has scored 8 goals in his last 9 games for Liverpool, including the opener in the recent 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.
Conclusion
While Nunez has shown encouraging signs in recent weeks, it remains to be seen if he can maintain his form and secure a regular starting spot under Slot. The competition from Jota and Salah will be fierce, and Nunez will need to continue to prove his worth if he wants to establish himself as a key player for Liverpool.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Why is Steve Nicol concerned about Darwin Nunez's future at Liverpool? A: Nicol believes that Nunez may struggle to find opportunities in the starting lineup due to the form of Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.
2. What has been Nunez's performance since joining Liverpool? A: Nunez has scored 10 goals in 28 appearances for Liverpool, but his performances have been inconsistent.
3. What did Jota and Salah do in Liverpool's recent win over Ipswich Town? A: Jota scored the opening goal and Salah added the second in Liverpool's 2-0 victory.
4. Who is Arne Slot and what is his managerial style? A: Arne Slot is a Dutch manager who has been in charge of Feyenoord since 2021. He is known for his attacking style of play and his ability to develop young players.
5. What is the future of Darwin Nunez at Liverpool? A: It remains to be seen if Nunez can secure a regular starting spot under Slot. His future at Liverpool will depend on his ability to maintain his form and compete with Jota and Salah for a place in the team.
Australia's captain Alyssa Healy's poor performance behind the wickets was overshadowed by her exceptional batting skills as she led her team to a comfortable 10-wicket win against Bangladesh in their Women's World Cup match. Her opening partner Phoebe Litchfield also remained unbeaten on 84 as Australia chased down the target of 199 in just 24.5 overs. Healy, who was named Player of the Match in their previous game against India, also praised her teammate Alana King for her impressive bowling performance.
During a match on the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, one of the leaders of La Facción Ingobernable reportedly dislocated his elbow after getting caught on the bottom rope. Despite the injury, he managed to continue with the post-match beatdown. It is uncertain if the injury will affect his future matches, including one scheduled for the following day in Mexico. Viewers can catch up on all the details of the incident and the rest of the AEW episode here.
After major flight delays and security restrictions, star Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill landed in Perth for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Along with the rest of the team, they will face off against Australia starting on October 19 in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide and Sydney. Questions about the future of Rohit and Kohli in the ODI team have sparked debate among fans.
Former New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, has been signed on as the strategic advisor for IPL team, Lucknow Super Giants. He will be replacing Zaheer Khan and will be working with the likes of Justin Langer and Rishabh Pant. Williamson's appointment comes after a three-month-long process that began during his time in the UK, where he was also involved in the Hundred. The Super Giants will be looking to improve their performance after a seventh-place finish in IPL 2025.
Amidst speculations of his retirement, Virat Kohli, the iconic former captain of the Indian cricket team, took to social media to share a powerful message of resilience. With the first match of the Australian ODI series approaching, all eyes are on Kohli and his fellow veteran teammate Rohit Sharma, who will be returning to the squad as a player but not as captain. As the two legends approach the end of their international careers, fans are eagerly waiting to see how they fare on the field.
Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer has collaborated with the faith-tech platform Bhagavad Gita for All, highlighting the use of the Gita's teachings for improved performance and mental wellness. With over 10,000 books sold and 1 lakh users on its mobile app, the platform aims to bring ancient wisdom into daily life through modern tech. Iyer's composure and focus on the field make him a perfect fit for this partnership, which also aims to reach Gen Z and Millennials for high-performance training.
The city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India has been recommended as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games by the Commonwealth Sport's Executive Board. This decision is set to be finalized on November 26 at the body's General Assembly, after being sent to the full membership of Commonwealth Sport. Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, expressed his pride and gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their vision and commitment towards making Ahmedabad the Sporting Capital of India.
Despite two goals from Ronaldo, Portugal was unable to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo's impressive performance, including his 40th and 41st World Cup qualifying goals, wasn't enough to overcome Hungary's late equalizer. Portugal will have to wait until November for another chance to qualify, with hopes of giving their star player one final shot at a major tournament.
In a heated match between India and Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, the Blue Tigers suffered a painful defeat as they failed to capitalize on their chances. Despite an early goal from Lallianzuala Chhangte, India's hopes were extinguished as Song Ui-young scored twice for Singapore, sealing their first win of the qualifying campaign. With just two points from four matches, India's chances of advancing to the next round now hang by a thread, as they would need to win all their remaining matches and hope for other results to go their way.
In a thrilling AFC Asian Cup qualifier match, Singapore stunned India with a 2-1 away victory, effectively ending the latter's hopes of qualification. Despite India's early lead through a stunning goal from Chhangte, Song Ui-young's clinical brace secured the win for Singapore. The result leaves India at the bottom of their group, while Singapore stays within reach of group leaders Hong Kong. India's missed chances ultimately proved costly, as their promising front-foot approach fell short in the end.