It has been a really difficult few months for Darwin Nunez at Liverpool.
Things had been going so well for the Uruguayan. Having scored his 18th of the season on the 4th of April, Nunez looked good to break the 20-goal barrier.
However, the 24-year-old has failed to find the net in nine appearances since then. Some woeful finishing has seen him drop firmly out of Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.
Nunez’s fall from grace is a fairly similar story to last season. Despite showing glimpses of his quality, the former Benfica man ended the campaign out of favour.
This has led to suggestions that Darwin could be on the chopping block this summer. With new boss Arne Slot set to take over from Klopp though, Liverpool legend Steve Nicol expects things to go a different way.
Steve Nicol makes Darwin Nunez ‘guarantee’
Up until recently, it really had been a promising season for Darwin. Not only was he scoring with decent regularity, he’d also registered 13 assists by April the 7th. Fast forward over a month though, and Liverpool’s No.9 hasn’t a single goal contribution more since.
It does now very much feel like make-or-break in terms of his career at Anfield. Plenty among the fanbase would have Liverpool cut their losses and sell Nunez.
However, speaking to ESPN FC, Nicol believes that the change in management over the summer could actually end up helping the Uruguay international.
“Of all the players at Liverpool who will be there next year, the fact that Arne Slot, or whether it was a new manager regardless, it’s probably going to be best for someone like Darwin Nunez. It’s a complete fresh start,” he says.
“There might be a little tinkering with how Liverpool play, that changes a lot of things on the field,” Nicol added. “He’s the one that will probably benefit as much as anybody from the change of manager. He’ll be coming out first training session thinking ‘right, I can impress this guy’, and if right I can impress this guy then what’s happened the last couple of years, not that it doesn’t matter put it kind of pales into insignificance’.
“The only thing I can guarantee you is that Darwin Nunez, from the very first day they get back, will be doing every single thing he can and more to impress Arne Slot, because it is a new start for him.”
Will Arne Slot want to keep Darwin Nunez
It promises to be an important summer for Nunez. After he seemingly deleted all Liverpool related content from his Instagram page recently, some may have become worried that he is already checking out of the club.
Certainly, his performances over the past six weeks and longer have suggested that it may not be a bad thing for this relationship to end.
Nevertheless, fiery character that he is, you can expect that Nunez will be determined to prove himself. Slot coming in could be just what he needs.
As we’ve previously noted, the Dutch coach has a habit of getting his strikers firing. It would be wise for him to at least take a look at Nunez.
For that reason, we don’t see Darwin leaving Liverpool any time soon. If someone comes in with a big big, then of course it may be considered, but at a crucial time in his career, this change could come just in time.