Fans quickly noticed the post-match reactions of Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, which saw them drop crucial points in the Premier League title race.
The result meant Liverpool missed the chance to extend their lead over Arsenal to 10 points on Wednesday night.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead with his 24th league goal of the season, but Aston Villa turned the game around within 10 minutes as Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins found the net. Arne Slot’s side faced an uphill battle but continued to push forward, and just past the hour mark, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected strike brought them level.
One of the game’s biggest talking points came shortly after. Dominik Szoboszlai set up Darwin Núñez, but the Uruguayan striker fired his shot over the bar from close range, missing a golden opportunity.
Reflecting on the miss, Slot acknowledged that while it wasn’t Núñez’s favored foot, it was still a major chance. “He had a clear opportunity in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. It wasn’t his best foot – he’s naturally right-footed – but it was still a big moment,” the Dutchman said. “I was hoping he’d get another opportunity because a player like him rarely misses twice in a row. He came close, but [Emiliano] Martínez made a great sliding tackle to deny him.”
Slot also hinted at the disappointment in the dressing room, saying, “If you look at the second-half chances, there is one player feeling quite down – you know who it is.”
After the final whistle at Villa Park, an image of Núñez talking with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez became a major talking point online, as did Salah’s visibly devastated reaction. Footage also showed Liverpool players applauding the away fans while Núñez headed towards the tunnel.
Reactions on social media were mixed. Some fans criticized Núñez’s demeanor after the match, with one saying, “A huge difference in sense of responsibility,” while another questioned, “How can you smile after dropping two crucial points?” Another fan added, “No one should be smiling after a game this important. It shows who is a true winner. Shake hands, but don’t look happy straight after.” However, some defended Núñez, with one saying, “He’s missing chances, but criticizing him won’t help. Support Núñez.”
Looking ahead to their upcoming clash with Manchester City, Arne Slot emphasized that his team must not make a habit of missing big chances. “Playing away at Villa is always tough, but performance-wise, I don’t think we dipped at all today,” he said. “What we must avoid—something that’s happened too often—is failing to get what we deserve. If you look at all the chances, it’s clear which team should have won. We can’t let this become a habit, but we’re still eight points ahead, with Arsenal having a game in hand.”
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