Liverpool manager Arne Slot has defended striker Darwin Nunez ahead of the Premier League game against Fulham on Saturday.

Uruguay striker Nunez has scored just three goals for the Reds this season but Slot says he brings more than goals to the side, who could go seven points clear with victory at Anfield.

Slot said: “Darwin has impact. He hasn’t scored the amount of goals he or we would want but he has imapct with his work rate.

“He is part of a team that scoes a lot of goals – I don’t only judge Darwin on his goals.”

Liverpool have scored 76 goals in 33 games in the calendar year so far, and have managed at least two in their last seven Premier League games.

Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota could return to the Liverpool squad this weekend ⤵️

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 13, 2024

Chiesa and Jota to return?

Slot’s attacking options could be booosted by the return from injury of both Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa.

Chiesa has played for just 18 minutes in the Premier League since joining Liverpool from Juventus last summer.

The Italian is returning to fitness but manager Arne Slot says it could be tough to get him up to speed in the packed schedule.

“What he needs is playing time,” said Slot.

“If you haven’t played for five or six months, it is sometimes difficult for a manager to give him those minutes because you don’t know what to expect.

“Maybe the Southampton game would be a good game to give him minutes. He needs to get his fitness level. He needs playing time. But it is not always easy to find these minutes.”