Arne Slot expressed his disappointment over Darwin Nunez’s missed open goal in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Aston Villa but emphasized that Nunez was likely more upset than anyone else.

Liverpool took the lead through Mohamed Salah’s brilliant strike in the 29th minute, but Villa fought back, with goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins putting the hosts 2-1 up by halftime.

The second half saw Trent Alexander-Arnold level things up for Liverpool on the hour mark. However, the real drama came when Dominik Szoboszlai made a superb run, leaving Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez stranded. Szoboszlai squared the ball to Nunez, who, despite beating Villa’s Tyrone Mings to the ball, fired his shot over the bar from a point-blank range, much to the frustration of Liverpool’s away supporters.

Reflecting on the chance in his post-match interview, Slot said: “The pass from Conor Bradley was incredible, and Dominik Szoboszlai made a fantastic run, making the perfect choice to square the ball. That left Nunez with a near-open goal. It wasn’t Nunez’s strongest foot – he’s right-footed – but it was still a massive chance.”

“He was unlucky, and I was hoping he’d get another opportunity because a player of his quality likely wouldn’t miss twice in a row. He was very close, but Martinez made a brilliant sliding tackle to deny him.”

“Of course, we were all disappointed, but it’s normal for the player to feel it the most,” Slot added, acknowledging Nunez’s evident frustration.

While a win would have put Liverpool 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League, Slot’s side now hold an eight-point lead, ahead of a crucial title showdown this weekend.

On Sunday, Liverpool will face Manchester City, who are struggling after a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Assessing his team’s performance in Birmingham, Slot reflected: “It was a great game overall. Going into halftime 2-1 down didn’t feel quite right, but I was still disappointed with how we finished the first half.”

“We came out strong in the second half, got the equalizer at 2-2, and created more opportunities to go ahead. At the same time, we were fortunate not to concede again. It was a fantastic match, but I’m not satisfied with the outcome.”

He continued, “Defensively, I thought we were solid. Villa didn’t really create many chances, and we were unfortunate with the balance of set-pieces. We scored two excellent goals and had enough opportunities to secure a win.”

“We’ve been in similar tight situations before, like our 2-1 win over Wolves, which was tough right up until the final minutes. Our players are used to playing under pressure, especially when fighting for trophies.”

Slot concluded: “We played well today, but that was also down to the way Villa approached the game. Every team faces every other team twice in a season, and this week we’ve had Villa away and City away. The important thing is we didn’t lose. We wanted more, and that’s something we can hold ourselves accountable for. We can’t let this become a recurring issue.”

Arne Slot is optimistic that his controversial decision regarding Liverpool’s FA Cup lineup against Plymouth Argyle will ultimately benefit the team’s pursuit of Premier League glory.

The Reds are preparing for a crucial showdown with Aston Villa on Wednesday, where a victory would push them 10 points ahead of Arsenal, despite the Gunners having a game in hand.

Liverpool is navigating a grueling fixture schedule, with five league matches crammed into just 15 days. This follows a hard-fought draw against Everton and a solid win over Wolves at Anfield.

Slot faced widespread criticism for fielding a significantly altered squad in the FA Cup fourth-round defeat to Plymouth, leaving out 11 key players. However, he remains convinced that this tactical move was essential. Despite some fatigue showing in the latter stages against Wolves, Slot insists his team has shown resilience in handling the intense match schedule.

“You consider many factors when selecting a lineup. The players showed some tiredness late on Sunday, which was expected after an emotional clash against Everton on Wednesday. That game took a lot out of us,” Slot explained.

“For the remainder of the season, these players have demonstrated time and again that they can bounce back within a few days. That’s precisely why they didn’t feature in Plymouth—to ensure they were fresh for this demanding run of games. There are always many aspects to weigh when making these decisions, so we’ll see how things unfold.”

With a crucial clash against Manchester City looming, Liverpool will still be missing Cody Gakpo, along with Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton due to long-term injuries. On a positive note, Curtis Jones returns to the squad after serving a one-match suspension.

Slot also commented on how managerial changes can impact player performances. “When a new manager arrives, you often see players performing at a much higher level. This can also happen when they move to different clubs,” he observed.

“You mention Rashford, but look at Antony thriving at Betis as well. I’ve always said United have had quality players for years. Some shine at Old Trafford, while others flourish elsewhere. But Rashford, in my view, remains one of England’s top attackers when he’s at his best.”

As the title race intensifies, Liverpool will hope Slot’s strategic planning pays off in their pursuit of silverware.