Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has opened up on Mohamed Salah's "incredible" mentality and shed light on a private joke he shares with the Reds' iconic forward.
Nunez was instrumental in the Reds' 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday. Will Smallbone had put the Saints 1-0 up, however the 25-year-old scored the equaliser and won the penalty that Salah then converted to put Liverpool ahead.
Salah later tucked away a second penalty after Luis Diaz was brought down in the box to seal the three points. The victory puts Liverpool 15 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, albeit having played one game more. Speaking after the tie, Nunez revealed that the Egyptian star's elite attitude is what separates him from his contemporaries this season.
The 32-year-old is in the form of his life with 41 goals in all competitions so far this season as he looks to spearhead his side to a historic treble. Nunez also lifted the lid on the playful relationship he has with Salah, showcasing just how well they work together.
"He has an incredible mentality," Nunez said. "When you arrive at the club, you see him there before everyone else, working hard. He has an incredible mentality and I always try to watch and learn from him.
"He is an example for many. Sometimes we joke with him; I tell him he doesn't give me a good pass and we laugh about it in the dressing room."
Nunez, often a beacon of chaos and unpredictability since arriving at Liverpool in 2022, enjoyed a suitably rambunctious afternoon at Anfield on Saturday. Not only was the former Benfica man integral in Liverpool's recovery but he was also at the centre of a furore after he looked to kick out at Saints star Kyle Walker-Peters, yet avoided a red card for the incident.
Southampton boss Ivan Juric also claimed the Liverpool forward went down "too easily" as he won the Red's first penalty of the afternoon. Yet speaking after the game, Slot, who had criticised Nunez’s work rate after games against Wolves and Aston Villa, praised the forward for his display as the Uruguayan star took his tally to seven goals for the season.
“That is also the life of a number nine,” he said. “You go from missing a chance to scoring an important goal to missing a chance again. “But today, especially in the second half. you also saw the work rate he can bring to the team."
Talking to TNT Sports Mexico, Nunez reflected on the Red's promising position in the league and insisted that there is still a long way to go in order for Liverpool to claim their 20th top flight title.
"Today it was a bit tough to get the three points, but we managed to pull through," Nunez said. "We need to keep going; this isn't over yet. There are many matches ahead and we all know the Premier League is very difficult, but we have to keep working."