Arne Slot clarifies the reasons behind Darwin Nunez’s absence in the match against Manchester City following criticism directed at Liverpool…

Arne Slot provides an explanation for Darwin Nunez’s absence in the match against Manchester City following criticism directed at Liverpool.

Arne Slot has clarified his choice to utilize Curtis Jones in a central attacking role for Liverpool’s match against Manchester City, leaving Darwin Nunez on the bench.

The Liverpool head coach explained that he opted for Jones as a false nine instead of the more traditional Nunez, who did not see any playing time at the Etihad.

“Diogo Jota informed me yesterday that he wasn’t fully fit to start, and Cody Gakpo only participated in his first training session yesterday, which limited our attacking options,” Slot shared with LFCTV.

He continued, “When playing away at City, you need to focus on defense. While Darwin has made significant contributions when called upon, his primary strength does not lie in defending near our own goal.

Therefore, we decided to incorporate an additional midfielder for more defensive support.”

Slot had previously expressed disappointment with Nunez’s performance after he missed a clear opportunity against Aston Villa, noting that he had not made a significant impact in consecutive matches.

However, Liverpool supporters showed their backing for Nunez, chanting his name, to which he responded with a wave.

Jones performed admirably in his role, effectively stepping in as a striker. In the second half, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz provided Liverpool with options to counterattack while maintaining a defensive posture.

“We aimed to deploy two wingers because constant defending limits your options,” Slot explained prior to the match.

“Having two quick wingers allows us to exploit spaces behind the defense, creating opportunities and enabling us to contest second balls. Overall, I believe our strategy was successful.”

Liverpool’s approach proved effective, as they managed to contain Manchester City’s pressure in the second half, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker facing minimal threats.

Despite this, Pep Guardiola expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance.

The match was commendable, he remarked after the game. “The first half was closely contested.

Initially, it was more open, but in the second half, they adopted a deep defensive strategy. They always pose a threat, but managing it is challenging.

We allowed them some space. Through our pressing and build-up play, we created opportunities for them.

“I believe [Jeremy] Doku and Savinho delivered outstanding performances, frequently reaching the byline, yet we lacked that final touch.

Overall, we played well, and I have no regrets. In the final third, despite our presence, we failed to convert our chances into significant opportunities.”

Opting to position Jones centrally was the right decision, and it would have been unexpected for Jota to start for the third time in eight days.

While Nunez could have been selected, his performance midweek was underwhelming, making Jones a more effective option for pressing, which helped to contain Manchester City until he began to tire.