It was not just his goal against Bournemouth that caught his manager’s eye, though. Nunez carried out his defensive duties diligently, registering more tackles than any other player on the pitch apart from team-mate Alexis Mac Allister.
“Of course, I play a striker because I like him to score goals – but it also helps if you keep a clean sheet,” added Slot, whose side top the table on goal difference from Manchester City and Aston Villa. “[In] keeping a clean sheet, Darwin was also involved.”
Nunez had played just 74 minutes under Slot before Saturday, but his fine all-round display will boost his chances of featuring more prominently in the coming weeks, as Liverpool juggle Premier League, Carabao Cup and Champions League commitments.
Liverpool welcome West Ham to Anfield in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday, before travelling to Wolves in their next league game on Saturday.
They return to Champions League action with a home match against Bologna on Wednesday 2 October.
“I think you get consistency by two things,” Slot replied when asked how the 25-year-old can establish himself as a more regular starter. “You get it by work-rate and you get it by team performance.
“If the team performance is not consistent, it’s so difficult for an individual to be consistent as well. We have to create our habits day by day on the training ground.
“[Nunez] showed a good game today. Maybe he can show it again on Wednesday.”