'I can’t accept if a player doesn’t give everything' - Arne Slot reveals 'work rate' warning to Darwin Nunez as Liverpool boss explains public criticism of struggling striker

Slot criticised the Uruguayan for his "behaviour" after he missed a chance from close range in last week's 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, adding that he "got too much in his head – where he wasn’t the usual Darwin that works his ass off and makes sure he helps the team". The 25-year-old was then left on the bench for the entirety of the Reds' 2-0 win against Manchester City on Sunday.

Slot says the Villa game was the second time in a row Nunez left him disappointed as the forward failed to make an impact when he came on against Wolves in the previous match, and the Dutchman insists he will not accept his work rate dipping again.

"I helped him by saying you can miss a chance. I wasn’t only hard on him. But for the second time in a row I wasn’t happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa," he said.

"I always try to be honest with my players and be honest as I can to you guys as well where I always try to protect my players so I don’t say he never worked hard. I know him differently. I know him at Villa at home where he made a 100 metre sprint and scored a goal, I know him when he came on at City at home and was pressing really aggressively and wins the ball back and we score.

"But I can’t accept if a player doesn’t give everything. That is clear. I can accept it once but twice was a bit too much. That’s why I addressed it. Not that I’m all of a sudden very angry with him. I don’t mind that he missed a chance, I’d have loved him to score it, and I know he will eventually score. But if you miss a chance, you need to be fighting for the team. I’m not saying he didn’t do that at all, but it wasn’t the usual Darwin, the one that is loved by the fans. That is mainly because he always works so hard."

The ex-Benfica star may be given a chance to impress again when the Premier League leaders face Newcastle on Wednesday after putting in a strong display in training.

Slot added: "[On Monday] he was incredible in the training session when it comes to work rate. Hopefully he can keep doing this, and whenever the team needs him then he is ready for it if he keeps putting in sessions like he did yesterday.”