Darwin Nunez was overheard expressing his frustration at failing to score during Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Fulham on Wednesday night.
The Uruguayan striker made a game-changing impact off the bench as the Reds came from behind to secure a first-leg victory in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Nunez set up both goals for Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo, taking him to ten assists for the season in all competitions.
However, he couldn’t find the goal that his performance warranted, with Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno making an outstanding save to keep Marco Silva’s side in the tie going into the second-leg.
In a behind-the-scenes video after the match, Nunez’s frustration about his lack of luck in front of goal was telling, going by comments that can be overheard in the clip.
Darwin Nunez could be overheard saying ‘the ball just doesn’t want to go in’ during a behind-the-scenes video following Liverpool’s first-leg Carabao Cup semi-final win over Fulham
Nunez made a game-changing appearance off the bench during Liverpool’s victory, setting up both of their goals for Curtis Jones (left) and Cody Gakpo (right) just three minutes later
Nunez didn’t get the goal his performance warranted as Bernd Leno kept the striker out
Nunez could be heard saying: ‘Loco, no quiere entrar la pelota nomas.’
This translates to: ‘Brother, the ball just doesn’t want to go in.’
The video though also showed him managing to put on his best smile as he and his team-mates congratulated staff members following their win at Anfield.
Though Nunez has 18 goal contributions this season, he has only found the back of the net on eight occasions – a number which should be higher given the quality of chances that he has had in certain games.
The 24-year-old has squandered some gilt-edged chances, but also been witness to some outstanding saves from his efforts – such as by Leno on Wednesday night.
While there is work to do on his finishing, Liverpool supporters and Jurgen Klopp have been happy with his all-round game, with the striker a fan-favourite at Anfield.
After the win over Fulham, Klopp hailed Nunez’s ‘outstanding’ impact off the bench, but admitted that he couldn’t explain the striker’s scoring issues.
He told reporters: ‘He plays outstanding, I have to say it. There are so many things I love about his game.
‘The first year was a year to adapt and he scored here and there but now he contributes in all games.’
Nunez has 18 goal contributions this season but there has been criticism over his finishing with the striker netted eight times this season, despite laying off a team-high 10 assists this term
Jurgen Klopp though was happy about Nunez’s all-round performance against Fulham
He added: ‘I don’t know how to explain the Darwin situation. I’m so happy about Darwin’s reaction and how he takes it but you cannot be more unlucky in these finishing situations, that’s not possible.
‘He does absolutely everything right, yet ball not in. And then he still sets up the other goal. I think that is really special to do that again.’
Fulham keeper Leno made a trio of saves from Nunez, with the Uruguayan striker unfortunate not to score with a powerful header from a Gakpo cross.
Nunez and Liverpool’s other forwards are having to take on greater responsibility with top scorer Mohamed Salah on Africa Cup of Nations duty, and chief creator Trent Alexander-Arnold injured.
The Uruguayan though now has more assists in all competitions this season than Salah or Alexander-Arnold, even though he has been unlucky in front of goal himself.
