Darwin Núñez was far from his best in the draw with Villa.
Image credit: Fabrizio Romano
Liverpool’s title challenge took a hit in their recent 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, with Darwin Núñez once again at the center of attention—not for his hard work, but for his inefficiency in front of goal.
The Uruguayan striker, who joined Liverpool for an initial £64 million in 2022, missed a golden opportunity from close range, a mistake that left head coach Arne Slot visibly frustrated.
While Núñez has delivered crucial moments—such as his late double against Brentford last month—his inconsistency remains a major talking point.
A Striker Who Divides Opinion
Despite netting 39 goals in 131 appearances for Liverpool, Núñez has underperformed compared to his expected goals (xG) tally of 52.4.
His struggles in converting chances have been evident, with an xG underperformance of -5.4 last season and -2.4 in his debut campaign.
This season, his shot conversion rate of 10.3% pales in comparison to teammates like Mohamed Salah (22.3%), Cody Gakpo (22.2%), and Luis Díaz (21%).
Darwin Nunez has missed just shy of one big chance every game since 2022/23 🫣 pic.twitter.com/f3vgrZk2xa
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 20, 2025
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler didn’t hold back, calling Núñez’s miss against Villa “one of the worst we’ve seen this year.”
Slot, while defending his player’s work ethic, admitted that the striker let the miss affect his performance.
“I can accept every miss,” Slot said. “But I think it got too much in his head, and he wasn’t the usual Darwin that works his socks off.”
Will Núñez Be at Liverpool Next Season?
The debate over Núñez’s long-term future at Anfield continues.
BBC Sport columnist Fara Williams believes he isn’t composed enough to lead Liverpool’s attack, while some fans argue that his missed chances have cost the club crucial points in back-to-back seasons.
With uncertainty surrounding Mohamed Salah’s future, some might have expected Núñez to step up. Instead, his erratic finishing raises doubts about whether he can be the focal point of Liverpool’s attack.
Fans, too, are growing impatient, with many calling for the club to move on from him in the summer transfer window.
As Liverpool’s title rivals close in, Núñez still has time to turn things around—but patience is wearing thin.