“IF I WERE ARNE SLOT, I WOULDN’T START HIM” – Pep Guardiola’s Alarming Warning to Liverpool About Star Player – and It’s Not Salah or Wirtz 😳
In a stunning pre-match twist, Pep Guardiola has issued a direct and unexpected warning to Liverpool manager Arne Slot ahead of their Premier League showdown. The Manchester City boss — famed for his tactical genius and psychological warfare — didn’t hold back.
🗣️ “If I were Arne Slot, I wouldn’t start him today. Clubs are targeting him. They want to injure him.”
That explosive statement has sent shockwaves through fans and pundits alike. Guardiola didn’t name the player outright, but insiders have confirmed: he’s talking about Darwin Núñez.
🔥 The Núñez Factor
The powerful Uruguayan striker has divided opinions since arriving at Anfield, but his chaotic pace, strength, and relentlessness have turned him into a key figure under Slot. However, Guardiola’s comments suggest something far more sinister: Premier League clubs are intentionally going after Núñez, not to contain him — but to hurt him.
“It’s not football anymore. You can see it clearly. They’re trying to injure him,” Pep allegedly told a Spanish journalist off-camera.
Reports suggest that Núñez has been on the receiving end of increasingly aggressive fouls in recent matches, and Guardiola believes the line has been crossed.
⚠️ The Slot Dilemma
Guardiola’s message was pointed — and strategic. Slot now faces a tough call: start Núñez and risk him facing more targeted challenges, or leave him out and potentially lose a key weapon in his attack.
Is this a genuine warning born of concern? Or a classic Guardiola mind game designed to unsettle Liverpool hours before kick-off?
💬 Fans React
Social media has erupted with reactions:
🔁 “Pep is basically saying players are trying to injure Núñez?? This league is wild.”
🔥 “If Núñez is benched, the Premier League needs to investigate this kind of targeting.”
Even rival fans are split — some see this as Guardiola playing psychological chess, while others are praising him for speaking out on a serious issue.
🧠 Mind Games or Message?
Guardiola has a long history of toying with the media and opposition managers. But this feels different. Pundits like Martin Keown have said it best:
“If Pep’s talking like this, there’s more going on behind the scenes than we know. He’s not bluffing.”
📌 What Happens Now?
All eyes are on Arne Slot. Will he risk Núñez? Will referees step in to protect him? And if Núñez does play, how will defenders respond?
One thing is certain: Guardiola just raised the stakes, and this already fiery fixture has been supercharged with tension.
The Premier League may be witnessing the beginning of something far bigger than one match.
Stay tuned. 👀💥
