the ARNE SLOT MACHINE blog

Darwin Núnez arrived at Liverpool in the summer of 2022 as one of the most exciting young forwards in world football. The hype was real, the expectations were high, but let’s be honest—his time at Anfield has been marked by thrilling highs and frustrating lows. Is it time to ask the question: could this be the beginning of the end for Darwin at Liverpool?

His Time at Liverpool

When Darwin signed for a reported £64 million, fans were buzzing. He was seen as a perfect striker for LFC under Klopp. Could Darwin Núnez be the next big deal? Had Klopp found his LFC version of Lewandowski? It looked great—clips from YouTube showed an energetic player bringing pace, power, relentless pressing, and an eye for explosive finishes in high-pressure moments.

Today, 2.5 years later, we’ve seen glimpses of what he can do. However, consistency has been his Achilles’ heel. For every stunning goal, there seems to be a few glaring misses, and that’s been the story of his Liverpool career so far.

The Statistics

Let’s get into the numbers. Darwin has missed a staggering 50 “big chances” in the Premier League since joining Liverpool. That’s tough to ignore. On the flip side, he’s been involved in 37 goals and 21 assists in 122 appearances (6770 minutes), adding up to a goal involvement every 116 minutes. This tells us that he’s still contributing even when he’s not hitting the net himself. But for a striker at Liverpool, is that enough?

What He Offers Without Goals

Here’s the thing about Darwin: even when he’s not scoring, he’s still causing problems for defenses. His pace stretches the backline, he creates space for teammates, he is a physical beast, and his energy is infectious. He’s become a bit of a different player—less of an out-and-out striker and more of a hard-working forward. But the problem remains: he still gets into positions to score, yet misses big chances far too often. Liverpool needs goals from players other than Salah to be at their best. With Salah, who’s contract runs out in 6 months, involved in over 70% of our goals this season, the lack of contributions from Darwin and the other attacking options is becoming a major concern.

Ambivalence and a Defining Period Ahead

As a fan, I find myself ambivalent about Darwin’s situation. On one hand, I’m a big fan of his energy and what he brings to the team. I want him to succeed, and I have been defending him to the bitter end toward my friends when discussing footy. But on the other hand, I understand the reality: Liverpool needs a striker who can consistently deliver goals. With the second half of the season approaching, it feels like crunch time for Darwin. Under Arne Slot, who seems like a relentless manager demanding results, this could be Darwin’s last chance to prove he can be the striker Liverpool needs.

What’s Next?

As fans, we love Darwin, and his name is sung loudly at Anfield with every great involvement he makes. However, we also know that the new manager, Arne Slot, is relentless with his team selections. This may be the last opportunity to move Darwin on while still securing a significant transfer fee. Would the possibility of bringing in a different type of player, someone like Joao Pedro or Matheus Cunha, provide Liverpool’s attack with a better setup for success? These next few months could determine not only Darwin’s future at Anfield but also the direction of the club’s attacking options moving forward.

Does Darwin have a future at Anfield, or is it time to move on?