Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has suggested Darwin Nunez to not get dragged into being affected by the highs and lows he experiences within the recreation.
The Uruguay worldwide scored his first aim in 15 matches on his first begin since April in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth and appeared tearful after his sensible end.
Nunez is hoping for a recent begin underneath new head coach Arne Slot after dropping his place within the crew within the ultimate months of Jurgen Klopp’s reign on the finish of final season.
He deleted all Liverpool-related images from his social media accounts and admitted destructive feedback about his kind had affected him.
The 25-year-old is an emotional character, it’s a high quality on which each he and followers feed off, however Van Dijk has urged him to attempt to take a extra measured stance.
“For him, coming right into a membership like Liverpool with the worth tag (a possible £85million membership file) there may be all the time going to be stress to provide week in, week out and he’s attempting to try this however it isn’t all the time that straightforward,” mentioned the Dutchman.
“Now it’s time for him to remain calm and I feel, in my view, he has been doing that a lot better and the supervisor is busy with him so much and us as gamers and we simply must maintain him near us and maintain going.
“He began (in opposition to Bournemouth) however he won’t begin the subsequent recreation and we would like him to be constant and maintain doing it and doing it when he comes on and when he begins.
“That’s the principle factor: don’t get dragged into the positivity after which the low of the negativity or you may be dizzy at a sure level.
“Consistency is the important thing. I feel he shouldn’t get carried away – however he gained’t – and now could be the time for him to get better and deal with the subsequent alternative he will get. That’s soccer.”
Slot has spoken concerning the want for Nunez to enhance the defensive aspect of his recreation with a view to be extra of an asset to the aspect.
Van Dijk believes the South American is starting to point out glimpses of that.
“Any striker, on the bench or who has a insecurity, works their socks off to achieve success,” he added.
“He bought an opportunity to be the beginning striker and he labored very onerous for that aim however he labored onerous defensively after we didn’t have the ball and people are the issues that we’d like from the entire crew.
“The followers love him for his work-rate, his directness and what he brings to the desk and he bought reward for the onerous work he did with a superb aim however we would like him to be constant and maintain doing it and I’m assured he will probably be superb.”