Slot can't accept Nunez workrate after costly miss against Aston Villa

Arne Slot said he cannot accept the work rate Darwin Nunez showed after his horror miss in Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

The Uruguay striker blazed over the crossbar with the goal gaping at Villa Park in a match where the Reds took the lead through Mohamed Salah but needed an equaliser from Trent Alexander-Arnold just after the hour to take a point.

Liverpool boss Slot said he can always forgive a player missing an opportunity in a game but wanted to see more in terms of endeavour from Nunez after his miss.

Speaking at a news conference before Sunday's clash with Manchester City, Slot said: "I can accept every miss, especially from a player that has scored two very important goals against Brentford, that scores for us in the home game against Villa.

"I would prefer him to score but the word 'chance' says it all. It's a chance so it's not 100 per cent sure that the ball goes in, and players miss chances.

"That I can accept but what was a bit harder for me to accept was his behaviour after that chance. I think it got too much in his head, where he wasn't the usual Darwin that works his a** off and makes sure he helps the team.

"I think he was too disappointed after missing that chance and maybe - we will never know, we will never find out - that's why he was just a fraction short the moment afterwards [when he had another chance].

"I always truly believe that it's best to have Wata's [Wataru Endo] mindset and what I mean with that is that for the whole season he doesn't stop playing, keeps on going and whenever we need him he's ready."

Slot, though, insists he will stress to Nunez just how important he will be during the title run-in, with Liverpool eight points clear of Arsenal having played a game more.

He added: "Yes, I will tell him that as well.

"But I think the most important message is you can miss a chance but you can't miss out on work rate. That is, for me, a more important message that I tell him, because that's the life of striker.

"He knows. He's 25, he will probably have missed a few chances in his career and he probably would have scored a few as well.

"Of course we would love to see it differently but it's part of the job of a No 9, part of your life that you sometimes miss where people expect you to score.

"But it's not part of the job of a No 9 then to slow down in work rate and that is something we will talk about."