Darwin Nunez: Robbie Fowler urges Liverpool forward to ‘go back to basics’ after 'one of the worst misses’

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Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler was critical of Darwin Nunez after the Uruguayan missed a potentially crucial chance in the 2-2 draw for The Reds at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday evening. Fowler said that Nunez was approaching a lack of confidence in the wrong way, and needed to think more about the game in order to succeed after he conspired to blaze over a golden chance.

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Video credit: SNTV

Robbie Fowler described Darwin Nunez’s miss against Aston Villa as "one of the worst misses", and urged the Liverpool forward to "go back to basics".

Villa and Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, but Arne Slot’s men created more chances over the course of the match.

One huge opportunity came to Nunez in the second half, when midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai squared to the Uruguayan, only to see him fire wide from close range.

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Nunez arrived at Liverpool having scored 34 in 41 games for his previous side, Benfica, but has yet to score more than 20 in a single season for The Reds. This campaign, he has just four league goals, and six in all competitions.

There is some speculation that he will be moved on in the summer, and speaking to TNT Sports after the match, former Liverpool striker Fowler found it hard to defend him.

Discussing an earlier one-on-one with Emi Martinez that saw the forward tackled, Fowler said: "I can’t believe you don’t try and flick it over the defender’s leg, because it’s a last-ditch tackle from the goalkeeper there.

Nunez misses from seven yards out – ‘Got to get it on target’

Video credit: TNT Sports

"If he flicks it over, he scores a goal. And that is people’s worry about Darwin Nunez, because you think he doesn't think about the game enough."

He added: "If you’re struggling for confidence, you’ve got to go back to basics. You’ve got to get the ball and touch it, give it five yards.

"You don’t dally on the ball to wait for someone to make an unbelievable run so you can play the pass. You play simple things, the basics, the simplicity of being a footballer."

Looking at the miss from Szoboszlai's lay-off, Fowler was even more critical.

He added: "He doesn’t think, does he? It’s a bad miss. It’s one of the worst misses we’ve seen this year. He’s missed the target, criminally, from seven or eight yards. That can’t be happening."