'I can't accept' - Arne Slot makes stark Liverpool admission ahead of Newcastle United visit

Eddie Howe’s men make the daunting trip to Merseyside for a game many are viewing as a tune-up to the Carabao Cup final. It has been hard for the Wembley showdown not to dominate the news agenda on Tyneside in recent weeks but, for Newcastle players, the focus is on the Premier League.

Liverpool are runaway league leaders and, to make life harder, the Magpies have not won at Anfield since 1994. Victory for Chelsea last night saw Enzo Maresca’s side leapfrog Newcastle in the Champions League race.

As it stands, United are sixth, level on points with Manchester City in fifth, a position that is likely to grant Champions League qualification this season due to the revamped UEFA coefficient system. Newcastle are undoubtedly underdogs when they aim to regain the advantage on Chelsea this evening.

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One player the Magpies will be wary of is nemesis Nunez, who sickened Toon fans with a late double at St James’ Park last season. However, the Uruguayan has come under fire for his barren form in front of goal.

Nunez has netted just six times across all competitions this season despite Liverpool’s dominance both domestically and in Europe. Speaking before Newcastle’s trip to Anfield, Reds boss Slot also questioned the 25-year-old’s work rate. 

"I helped him by saying you can miss a chance," Slot told reporters at his pre-match press conference. "I wasn't only hard on him. But for the second time in a row, I wasn't happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.

"I can't accept if a player doesn't give everything. That is clear. I can accept it once but twice was a bit too much. That's why I addressed it.

"If you miss a chance, you need to be fighting for the team. I'm not saying he didn't do that at all, but it wasn't the usual Darwin, the one that is loved by the fans. That is mainly because he always works so hard."