Darwin Núñez is currently attracting headlines like he attracts chances. He didn't make the starting XI against Tottenham, but he certainly made the news.
Núñez faced some criticism for failing to kill the match off from the bench
Fans spotted that the striker had removed almost all references to Liverpool from his Instagram feed. Around the same time, transfer links to Barcelona emerged.
That would see Núñez follow the path of Luis Suárez.
Liverpool may still be hoping that he emulates his compatriot in a different way, exploding into goal-scoring form
Incoming head coach Arne Slot, along with FSG head of football Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes, will need to decide how much patience to afford the striker.
Suárez has previously had some telling comments, while the latest footage perhaps gives an insight into Núñez's headspace at the minute.
Suarez:
“When he was at Almería, I said it at Barca,”
“They asked me and I said ‘look after this guy, he’s very interesting’, but they said no, he’s at Almería, he’s very young.
“But instead of paying now 80, 90, or 100 million, they would have paid 15 or 20.”
Sure enough, Liverpool did pay in that region to take Núñez from Benfica. Perhaps Barcelona could get him for slightly cheaper now if its interest proves genuine
the recommendation of Suárez is one of many things that should make Liverpool think very carefully before cutting its losses
If Núñez's social media activity suggested something was wrong, new footage from after the Spurs game seems to reinforce that notion.
The striker has worn his heart on his sleeve from the moment he joined, and while that has endeared him to the Anfield faithful, it appears he is not especially happy at the moment.
Núñez was the first one off the pitch after the win over Spurs, making a beeline for the tunnel and barely acknowledging the supporters.
There are parallels with Mohamed Salah's foul mood last week against West Ham, with neither forward enjoying being benched from the start.
Liverpool will hope that Núñez's problems are similarly short-lived. But at the moment, it looks as though Slot could inherit a delicate situation.
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