Liverpool kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon.
Travelling to a newly-promoted side looks like a great opening fixture on paper, but it was a potential tripwire for Arne Slot‘s first game.
Anything but a win in the Dutchman’s opening game would have attracted unwanted attention to his side. Thankfully for Slot, a second-half masterclass from the Reds secured a vital three points.
It was the first real chance for Liverpool fans to get a glimpse at ‘Slot-ball’, and while the first half was a nervy watch, supporters will have enjoyed what they saw after the break.
Much of the talk during pre-season was whether Slot would trust Diogo Jota or Darwin Nunez to lead the line. The latter missed most of the summer preparations after returning late from his Copa America duties.
Slot trusted Diogo Jota with the starting spot and the Portuguese forward rewarded his new manager’s faith by scoring Liverpool’s first goal of the season.
Darwin Nunez remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes, and talk of the Uruguayan star being unhappy is now starting to grow louder.
Darwin Nunez under Arne Slot
It seems Nunez is going to have to fight for his spot under Slot this season, with Jota currently ahead of him in the pecking order.
Nunez scored 18 goals in all competitions last season but his inconsistency in front of goal proved to be frustrating.
Now on the bench, former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol believes Nunez is unhappy with his role.
“Not good for Darwin Nunez. Not good that Jota scores. If you’re Darwin Nunez you’re now wondering how you get a start,” Nicol said on ESPN.
“If Jota keeps scoring goals then Nunez will not start. It’s beginning to feel like he’s not happy sitting on the bench.
“It’s sort of a carry-on from last year, where he pretty much disappeared from the team. It smells a little bit like that.”
Darwin Nunez at Liverpool this season
It is far, far too early in the season to suggest that Nunez is already throwing his toys out the pram about his role.
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He will obviously be upset at missing the opening game, but there is plenty more football to play this season and he will get his chance to lead the line under Slot.
When he does get his chance, it’s down to Nunez to prove that he can be a clinical finisher in and around the box.
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