Ex-Liverpool defender raises Darwin Nunez question after Arne Slot snub

Arne Slot has only managed Liverpool in one competitive fixture and already a major decision he's made is being questioned.

Ahead of the Reds' Premier League opener against newly-promoted Ipswich Town, all eyes were on the Dutchman's team selection as many questioned who he would choose in the defensive midfield role and who would spearhead the attack.

In the end it was Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota respectively. In truth, both players proved their worth with the former looking rather comfortable alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the engine room.

Meanwhile Jota opened the scoring on the hour mark as he finished off a fine move involving Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah. However, former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol doesn't believe the goal, rather the scorer, is good news for Darwin Nunez.

READ MORE: Liverpool 'needed' 25-year-old to beat Ipswich

Jota goal "not good for Darwin Nunez"

"Not good for Darwin Nunez. Not good that Jota scores. If you’re Darwin Nunez you’re now wondering how you get a start," Nicol said on ESPN. "If Jota keeps scoring goals then Nunez will not start.

"It’s beginning to feel like he’s not happy sitting on the bench. It’s sort of a carry-on from last year, where he pretty much disappeared from the team. It smells a little bit like that."

To Nicol's point, Nunez has struggled for Liverpool starts stretching all the way back to last season, with his last coming in the 2-0 Merseyside derby defeat at the hands of Everton back in April.

With that said, this is a new era now that Slot has replaced Jurgen Klopp at the helm and there's still a long way to go in the campaign for the Uruguay international to reclaim a starting berth.

Nunez is very much a fan favourite and has struck a respectable 33 goals in 96 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool, but that return could, perhaps should, have been far greater given the number of chances he spurns.