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But in his team's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Wednesday night, Núñez's profligacy proved particularly costly as Arne Slot's side missed out on the chance to go 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with 12 games to go.

From a neutral's perspective, this pulsating contest was one of the games of the Premier League season so far, with goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins cancelling out Mohamed Salah's opener before Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected strike rescued a precious point for the league leaders at Villa Park.

From Liverpool's point of view, however, this -- much like last week's draw against Everton at Goodison Park -- was a missed opportunity to really assert their authority in the title race.



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Wednesday's clash in the West Midlands was the third fixture in a testing run of five games in 15 days for Liverpool.

After conceding at the death in the Merseyside derby and edging to a narrow victory over strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, there has been a growing sense that nerves are starting to creep in for Slot's side as the season nears the business end.

The Dutchman dismissed that notion in his prematch news conference, but at times against Villa, his players looked as if their most fearsome foe was in their own minds as opposed to anyone in a claret and blue shirt.

There were fireworks even before a ball was kicked, with the prematch pyrotechnics at Villa Park adding further credence to the sense that this was a mammoth game.

Liverpool started well and got their reward when Diogo Jota intercepted Andres Garcia's loose pass and squared it for Salah, who rifled into the roof of the net to notch his 24th league goal of the season.

Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season, has been accused in some quarters of being distracted by the attentions of Real Madrid, but as he passionately whipped up the Reds' traveling fans following his strike, there could be no questioning his commitment to the cause.

Liverpool won't be concerned yet when it comes to the title race, but Núñez's latest glaring miss could yet prove pivotal if they fall short. Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images

From that moment on, it felt like it was Liverpool's game to win, and Slot's side should have nosed in front when Dominik Szoboszlai was brilliantly played through on goal by substitute Conor Bradley.

With the talismanic Salah out of contract at the end of the season, the need to plan for life after the Egypt international -- whether that be next term or further down the line -- feels imperative.

For now, though, Liverpool's focus is on clinching a record-equalling 20th league title, and the point gained at Villa Park moves Slot's side eight clear at the summit, though second-placed Arsenal do have a game in hand.

Liverpool are now undefeated in their past 22 games in the Premier League; their longest unbeaten run since a staggering 44-game stretch between January 2019 and February 2020.
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