Arne Slot responds to claim he is banned from starting Liverpool star

Arne Slot has hit back at suggestion that he is not starting Darwin Nunez because it will cost Liverpool financially to do so.

Liverpool look set to be crowned Premier League champions for the second time on Sunday when they welcome Tottenham to Anfield.

The Reds need only draw with Spurs to clinch the title with four games to spare following Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

With the exception of Joe Gomez, Slot has everyone available for the potentially crowning moment, though there is one player whose future in the squad is in doubt.

Striker Nunez has had a tough season, finding the back of the net just seven times in 42 appearances, and infamously missing numerous open goals and easy chances.

He was even linked with leaving Anfield in January amid interest from the Saudi Pro League and Atletico Madrid, and it does seem he will be moved on this summer having started just one league game in 2025.

But ahead of the Tottenham clash, reports emerged stating that Nunez’s lack of starts may be down to the club not wanting to pay add-ons that were included in his big money transfer to Liverpool in 2022.

Jurgen Klopp signed the Uruguay international from Benfica for €75million (£64m) with €25m (£21m) worth of add-ons.

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Benfica were paid €5m (£4.2m) when the forward reached 10 starts in the Premier League and Champions League combined, and the same amount again at 35 starts.

The 25-year-old is currently on 59 starts, but with another €5m due when he reaches 60 and only a handful of games left this season, Benfica are said to be concerned that they could miss out on this windfall.

Slot however has refuted these reports, telling reporters in his pre-match press conference on Friday: ‘Do you always believe what journalists say? Not always? Me neither.

‘Sometimes you should, but sometimes it’s better not to believe everything that is written about players. This is completely new to me and I’ve said many times that I’m working at a club here where it’s really nice to work.

‘So mainly sporting directors are judged by the players they bring in, for me it’s very important to have a great working environment and I have that with Richard [Hughes].

‘The last, last, last, last, last thing he would do, as I expect working with him for 10 months, is tell me, “If you play him it would cost us this much”.

‘That, he would never, never, never do. I don’t even know if it’s true, yes or no, because we never talk about that. He never interferes with a lineup.

‘It might be true, but if a journalist says it we have to [take it with a pinch of salt].’

In all, Nunez has made 138 appearances for Liverpool, recording 40 goals and 26 assists, but finds himself behind the likes of Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo in the centre-forward pecking order.

He has three years left on his contract and last month it was reported that the Reds were willing to include him in a player plus cash deal for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.

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