'He was incredible': Arne Slot blown away by Liverpool star in training

Arne Slot hailed one Liverpool star for a brilliant training display ahead of Newcastle United this week.

Liverpool take on Newcastle United on Wednesday evening as they attempt to tighten their grip on the Premier League title. The Reds are now overwhelming favourites to win the trophy.

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That comes after their 2-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. It's actually the first time in a decade that the Reds won a league game there - a sign of a power shift at the top.

Arsenal's defeat to West Ham United allowed the Reds to open a bigger gap with Mikel Arteta's side. Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai combined for the goals as Liverpool did just that.

But it was a notable fixture in terms of team selection. Arne Slot never actually used a centre-forward in the game, instead using Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai as False 9s at times.

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Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota sat on the bench. Nunez's lack of action means he hasn't played more than 32 minutes in a fixture since the 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur to start the month.

He's incredibly out of favour right now - but Slot isn't hiding that fact. The Dutchman has been very open about Nunez's place in the side.

Arne Slot on Darwin Nunez

"I wasn't only hard on him," Slot told reporters of Nunez this week. "But for the second time in a row I wasn't happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.

"I always try to be honest with my players and be honest as I can to you guys as well where I always try to protect my players so I don't say he never worked hard. I know him differently.

"I know him at Villa at home where he made a 100-metre sprint and scored a goal, I know him when he came on against City at home and was pressing really aggressively and wins the ball back and we score.

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"But 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."

The positive thing here, though, is that Slot appears to have claimed a win. After dropping Nunez and criticising his work-rate, there seems to have been a reaction.

"[Monday] he was incredible in the training session when it comes to work-rate," said Slot. "Hopefully, he can keep doing this, and whenever the team needs him then he is ready for it if he keeps putting in sessions like he did yesterday."

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Nunez has not had a good season in front of goal but his work-rate makes him invaluable to Liverpool at his best. The problem is that he hasn't been at his best.

Without that work-rate, Nunez just isn't a good fit for the team and Slot recognises that. He took the Uruguayan out - and will make him earn his place back.

It does sound as though Nunez is willing to do just that, though.

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