Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez was left feeling dejected after missing a crucial open goal that could have secured a win against Aston Villa on Wednesday night. Despite the draw, the Premier League leaders managed to extend their lead over Arsenal to eight points, having played one more game.
Nunez’s missed opportunity came late in the match when Dominik Szoboszlai squared a perfect pass to him, taking the goalkeeper out of the equation. Unfortunately, the Uruguayan striker shanked his shot high and wide, a moment that left both him and the team disappointed.
Manager Arne Slot acknowledged Nunez’s frustration, stating, “There’s one player in the dressing room who feels quite down, and I think you know who that is.” He noted that Szoboszlai made the right decision to pass and described it as a big chance for Nunez. Slot expressed hope that Nunez would have another opportunity, as he typically wouldn’t miss two chances in a row.
The disappointment in the dressing room was palpable. Slot added, “They are all very disappointed, but it is normal that when a player misses a chance like this that they would be more disappointed.”
Nunez has had a challenging season, scoring just six goals in 35 appearances across all competitions. While he has had some memorable moments, including two late goals against Brentford, his confidence appears to be wavering.
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler criticized Nunez’s performance, calling the miss “unforgivable.” He suggested that Nunez needs to return to basics, emphasizing the importance of making simple plays when confidence is low. Fowler remarked, “It’s a bad miss, a really bad miss—up there with one of the worst we’ve seen this year.”
Slot also reflected on Liverpool’s performances, suggesting they often don’t get the results they deserve. He cited the previous week’s draw at Everton, which he mistakenly referred to as a “loss,” as another example of this trend. He stated, “Performance-wise, we are not in a dip at all… but we must not make a habit out of that because it has happened a little bit too much.”
On the other side, Villa manager Unai Emery expressed his dissatisfaction with the draw, believing his team could have taken all three points. He acknowledged Liverpool’s strength as the best team in the Premier League and Champions League but praised his side for competing well. Emery concluded that the result was fair for both teams, though he wished for a victory.