After a slow start Nunez faces uphill battle for a greater role in Slot's side

In the process of selecting a lineup, a manager may find his appreciation for a player's talent in conflict with concerns about whether that player’s style of play suits his set-up.

In the case of Darwin Nunez, Arne Slot has yielded to the latter factor in the majority of his lineups in the opening weeks of the campaign. 

Though Nunez’s quality as a footballer is clear, his performances and reliability in front of goal have been polarizing since his arrival at Liverpool two years ago.

At his best, the forward can produce sensational finishes, dominate in aerial duels and presses relentlessly. At his worst, he struggles to put away simple chances and is completely wasteful on the ball. Often, Nunez’s brilliant and infuriating sides are on display even in the same match. 

Shortly after his appointment as Liverpool manager, Slot stressed his desire to work with and incorporate the Uruguayan into his plans.

However, it's evident from Nunez’s early outings that he’ll require considerable time to establish the starting position at striker as his own under his new manager. 

Nunez’s work rate, dominance in the air, physicality, and all around chaotic nature were great assets to Jurgen Klopp’s high-tempo approach, but do not appear to be the exact attributes Slot has valued in the early days of his term.

The former Feyenoord coach has attempted to implement a more calm, controlled style of play with a more gradual build-up rather than set his team up to attack as soon as they win the ball.

Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo’s technical qualities and stronger link-up play offer greater compatibility with that system than Nunez’s chief strengths, which are mostly physical. 

Nunez’s start against Bologna last Wednesday was just his third in Slot’s ten matches as Liverpool coach.

In what was a fairly unremarkable performance, he got on the end of only one real chance in which he mustered only a tame shot straight at Bologna keeper Lukasz Skorupsi.

He did beat Skorupsi minutes earlier with a neat finish, but his failure to time his run properly was once again a familiar source of frustration as his effort was ruled offside. 

Nunez should take the fact that he did not even make it off the bench in the following match against Crystal Palace as a message that his competition for a place in this side is formidable and that he has to take his opportunities when Slot presents them.

With one goal and one assist in seven total appearances, it’s fair to say that he has yet to do so. 

His suspension from Uruguay’s upcoming fixtures against Peru and Ecuador  will deny him valuable further minutes on the pitch.

The international break would have offered another chance to snap back into his goal-scoring rhythm, as Nunez boasts a far more prolific tally of five goals and two assists in Uruguay’s six World Cup qualifiers. 

However, Nunez can be confident of receiving more game time when club football returns as fixtures begin to pile on for Liverpool.

The Reds will have to navigate seven tricky fixtures in a three week span between October 20th and November 9th and that will force Slot to rotate his squad. 

Clashes against Chelsea, Arsenal, Villa, Brighton, Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen could prove defining for Liverpool’s early title push and hopes of a preferable top-eight finish in the Champions League’s league phase.

If the former Benfica forward believes he deserves a greater role in his manager’s plans, these are the moments in which he simply must deliver.