Liverpool’s penalty heartbreak and what it means for the future | OneFootball

Nunez’s Night to Forget as Liverpool Crash Out

Darwin Nunez slumped into the embrace of Arne Slot as Anfield absorbed the gut-wrenching reality of Liverpool’s Champions League exit. It was a moment of stark emotion, encapsulating a night that may come to define the contradictions of the Uruguayan striker’s time at the club.

Nunez’s Miss and the Weight It Carried

Liverpool’s European adventure came to a halt in a dramatic penalty shootout against Paris Saint-Germain, but despite the collective nature of their defeat, the focus inevitably turned to Nunez. The 24-year-old was not solely responsible for Liverpool’s exit, but there was an undeniable sense that his miss carried an extra burden.

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Courage cannot be questioned; stepping up to take Liverpool’s second penalty required composure. But there was an unease inside Anfield, a collective apprehension that former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock articulated on BBC Radio 5 Live:

His effort was saved by PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, and from there, the momentum was lost. The miss alone did not decide Liverpool’s fate—Curtis Jones also saw his attempt denied—but as Nunez trudged back to the halfway line, comforted by teammates, the sense of a personal and collective failing was inescapable.

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Slot and Nunez’s Ongoing Challenge

Nunez has often been a figure of fascination at Liverpool—an enigma who embodies both chaos and potential. His performances swing between explosive brilliance and erratic unpredictability, leaving his long-term suitability for Liverpool’s ambitions under Slot in question.

The manager himself has not been afraid to issue public challenges. After games against Wolves and Aston Villa, Slot made his feelings clear:

Against PSG, there was no shortage of effort. If anything, this was a performance of someone trying too hard, overthinking each action, and misplacing passes as a result. He replaced Diogo Jota with 17 minutes of normal time remaining but never truly imposed himself on the contest.

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Liverpool’s structure demands fluidity, intelligent movement, and an ability to influence big moments. Nunez has shown flashes of that capability, but as time progresses, questions remain over whether he can consistently deliver on those requirements. His penalty miss may have been only one detail in a broader narrative, but it was one that seemed to carry symbolic weight.

PSG’s Strength and Liverpool’s Misfortune

While Liverpool will analyse their own shortcomings, they can also justifiably point to the misfortune of drawing a PSG side that increasingly looks like genuine contenders for the Champions League.

Having topped the new format’s table with relative ease, Liverpool found themselves paired against Luis Enrique’s evolving PSG side, one that has moved beyond the era of individual superstars like Lionel Messi and Neymar to become a more cohesive and disciplined outfit.

If there was fortune in Liverpool’s first-leg victory in Paris, there was little of it here. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury compounded the frustration, while both he and Jarell Quansah struck the woodwork. Donnarumma’s saves from Ibrahima Konaté and Luis Díaz added to the sense of a night where fine margins dictated outcomes. Even Mohamed Salah—so often the man for crucial moments—had a rare evening where the finishing touch eluded him.

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Luck deserted Liverpool in the penalty shootout as well. With the toss favouring PSG, the penalties were taken in front of their own supporters rather than the iconic Kop, a minor detail that perhaps contributed to the shift in momentum.

Future Questions for Liverpool and Nunez

With Liverpool’s Champions League hopes extinguished, attention inevitably turns to what comes next. The squad under Slot remains on a strong trajectory, but there is a feeling that the summer may bring significant decisions, not least regarding Nunez’s future.

While he will have opportunities to shift the narrative—potentially as soon as the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United—there is an undeniable sense that his role at Liverpool remains in flux. His raw attributes remain undeniable, but the inconsistency continues to be a point of concern.

Slot’s Liverpool will almost certainly enter the summer as Premier League champions, but they will also be a team refining and strengthening their approach for the next phase of development. Whether Nunez is central to that remains one of the more intriguing questions.