Darwin Núñez was the scapegoat after Liverpool's dropped points away at Aston Villa. The Uruguayan missed a huge chance in front of an open goal, causing the league leaders to be held to just a point in Birmingham. Núñez faced heavy criticism in England.
With a ten-point lead and twelve matches to go, along with a rival that isn't convincing, Liverpool would have been well on their way to the Premier League title," wrote The Telegraph.
"But Darwin was Darwin once again. His tendency for the most disastrous misses continues to amaze. In a match that ended 2-2 against Aston Villa, this is the kind of miss that Liverpool might seriously regret." The frustration was evident across the board as Liverpool squandered a golden opportunity to take full control of the title race. For a team that has prided itself on resilience and efficiency in big moments, this felt like a major setback.
It wasn’t just the magnitude of the miss it was the timing, the ease of the chance, and the wider implications of dropping crucial points. With Manchester City and Arsenal lurking, every slip-up can prove costly, and Núñez’s blunder became the defining moment of a game that Liverpool should have won. His performance was erratic, full of energy but lacking composure, a pattern that has become all too familiar during his time at Anfield. The Uruguayan has often been praised for his work rate and movement, but when it comes to the final touch, his inconsistency remains a glaring issue.
Liverpool Echo went even further, calling Núñez's mistake "an unacceptable moment." "He could have been the hero but instead only fueled further doubts about his future. His glaring miss one that forced Arne Slot to bury his head in his hands on the sidelines could end up being decisive this season. Never before has Liverpool spent so much money on a player (€85 million), and this chance should have been a mere formality." The Merseyside press did not hold back, questioning whether the striker has the mentality required to lead Liverpool’s attack in critical moments. While his physical attributes and pressing ability are undeniable, his finishing continues to frustrate fans and analysts alike. This miss, in particular, felt like a moment that could define not just Liverpool’s season, but Núñez’s future at the club.
The narrative surrounding the Uruguayan has been a rollercoaster, from glimpses of brilliance to moments of outright despair. His ability to create chances is impressive, but his conversion rate remains worryingly low for a forward leading the line at a club with Liverpool’s ambitions. As the season reaches its climax, the pressure will only mount. While Arne Slot has defended his striker in the past, calling him a player with immense potential, patience is wearing thin among supporters who have seen Liverpool fall short too often in recent years due to wasted opportunities.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler was ruthless in his assessment on TNT Sports. "He's not focused enough on the game. If you're lacking confidence, you need to go back to basics control the ball, play simple five-meter passes, do the easy things. But he doesn't think. In a 2-2 draw that could have been a win, this miss was bad, really bad. One of the worst misses we've seen this year. His miss is almost criminal. This simply cannot happen." Fowler, a legend at Anfield, knows what it takes to perform under pressure, and his words cut deep. Liverpool’s history is built on clinical strikers, from Ian Rush to Fernando Torres and Luis Suárez, and Núñez’s inconsistency makes it difficult to place him in that same lineage.
The statistics paint an unflattering picture. Núñez has one of the worst conversion rates among Premier League strikers this season, despite being among the players with the highest expected goals (xG). This suggests that he is getting into the right positions but failing to capitalize something that is becoming an ongoing theme rather than an occasional mishap. His body language after the miss was telling; hands on his head, staring at the ground, unable to comprehend how he had failed to score from such close range.
The Times captured the disbelief felt by fans and manager alike. "Slot took a step back, expecting the net to ripple, and a fraction of a second later, he lurched forward in disbelief, his hands covering his face. Not for the first time in his erratic Liverpool career, Darwin Núñez was responsible for catching his manager off guard. The consequences were immediately felt." The Dutchman, still in the early days of his tenure at Anfield, has so far kept a composed demeanor, but there was no hiding his frustration this time. Liverpool had the game under control and should have seen it out comfortably, but moments of sloppiness allowed Villa to snatch a draw.
"It wasn't as bad as Ronny Rosenthal's infamous miss for Liverpool in 1992, but it was a typical example of Slot's team being too often sloppy neither clinical in attack nor assured in defense." The reference to Rosenthal’s miss, one of the most infamous blunders in football history, highlights just how shocking Núñez’s error was. Unlike Rosenthal’s, which came in a relatively inconsequential match, this miss could directly impact Liverpool’s title ambitions.
The fallout from the game extends beyond Núñez. Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities were also exposed, raising further concerns about their ability to close out matches. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, usually so reliable, looked uncomfortable at times, while the midfield lacked control in the closing stages. Villa sensed this nervousness and capitalized, ensuring that Liverpool left Birmingham with just a single point rather than all three.
As the Premier League race tightens, every moment like this will be magnified. Slot will now face a crucial decision does he continue to back Núñez, hoping that confidence will return and the goals will flow, or does he look for alternative solutions in attack? The Uruguayan remains a polarizing figure among Liverpool fans, adored for his passion and effort but scrutinized for his lack of composure in front of goal. With Manchester City and Arsenal breathing down their necks, Liverpool cannot afford to waste more chances like this.
Núñez's response in the coming games will be crucial. A strong finish to the season could redeem him, but another costly miss could define his time at Liverpool in a way he may not recover from. The pressure is mounting, and the Premier League title race just got even more intense.
