Gary Neville Sparks Firestorm Over Darwin Núñez After Liverpool’s Carabao Cup Drama
As Liverpool’s 2–1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton was still sinking in, Gary Neville lit up the debate with a blunt post-match tirade that has split opinion among fans.
Speaking on The Overlap minutes after Hugo Ekitike’s dramatic late winner — and his bizarre shirt-off red card celebration — Neville zeroed in not on the chaos of Anfield, but on Arne Slot’s treatment of Darwin Núñez.
“I just don’t get why they’re benching him,” the former Manchester United captain fumed. “If Liverpool don’t want him, let him go to Man City — they’ll show you the magic! Núñez is raw, chaotic genius, and parking him against Championship-level Saints? It’s criminal. Slot’s playing with fire.”
The comments poured petrol on a simmering debate: is Núñez Liverpool’s most dangerous forward, or too erratic for Slot’s carefully constructed system?
A night of rotation — and questions
Slot’s team selection reflected a heavy schedule. With Salah, Van Dijk, Szoboszlai, and Konaté all rested, teenagers like Trey Nyoni stepped in, while Federico Chiesa’s dazzling wing play set up Alexander Isak’s opener. Southampton hit back through Cameron Archer before Ekitike snatched the win late on.
But all eyes quickly turned to Núñez, Liverpool’s £85m record signing. The Uruguayan watched from the stands, benched for the fourth time in six matches. His tally of 34 goals in 109 games is respectable, yet his missed chances — 28 last season alone — remain a sticking point.
Slot’s preference for Diogo Jota’s composure and Cody Gakpo’s link-up play has pushed Núñez down the pecking order. And Neville wasn’t having it. “Núñez brings the x-factor. The runs, the chaos, the pressing. Liverpool look sanitized without him — like a Ferrari with the handbrake on.”
Fan divide and transfer whispers
The reaction was instant. #FreeNunez trended with nearly 200,000 posts, opinions split between “Gary’s right — Darwin is our fire” and “Slot knows what he’s doing, trust the system.”
Neville’s provocation carried a sharp edge too: linking Núñez with Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side, stuttering under a summer rebuild, could feasibly use his pace and unpredictability. Rumors of a swap with Julián Álvarez have circled since summer — fueled by Núñez’s cryptic Instagram post: “Patience 🔥”.
Slot stays calm — publicly
For now, Slot is holding firm. “Darwin is our spark, no doubt,” he told reporters. “Rotation is key — seven games in 21 days. His time will come.”
Privately, though, concerns linger. Sources hint at frustration in the Núñez camp over his limited minutes, and Slot’s recent remarks about “ruthless finishing” were widely interpreted as a pointed nudge.
Neville’s timing cuts deep
Neville has blown hot and cold on Slot before, but his latest salvo hits at a sensitive moment. Liverpool have been efficient under their new boss, but some argue the chaos that defined the Klopp era is missing. Jamie Carragher, normally Neville’s foil, surprisingly agreed: “Benching Núñez is like leaving fireworks in the box.”
With a Merseyside derby and fourth-round draw looming, Slot now faces a choice — stick to his measured rotation, or unleash Núñez’s raw unpredictability.
For Liverpool fans, the question lingers: is Slot building control at the cost of magic? Or as one fan put it bluntly on X: “Unleash the beast before City do.”
