Liverpool boss Arne Slot hits out at Darwin Nunez rumour and brings in Richard Hughes

has slammed reports claiming he has been told not to select over a clause in the forward's contract. A Portuguese publication claimed this week that Liverpool owe Benfica £5million this season.

Nunez has not started since Liverpool beat Southampton in March. Slot has preferred Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz through the middle of his attack this season. Nunez has struggled in some of his appearances but it has been claimed that his below-par displays are not the only reason for his lack of starts over the past month. Speculation in Portugal suggested that Liverpool will owe his former club Benfica £5m if he starts 25 matches across all competitions, with the 25-year-old appearing in Slot's starting 11 on 24 occasions.

However, the Dutchman seemed to suggest that is just a coincidence. He criticised the rumour and denied that sporting director Richard Hughes has influenced his team selection.

Slot said: "Do you always believe what journalists say? Not always? Me neither. Sometimes you should, sometimes you shouldn't believe what is written about players.

"It's completely new to me. Normally sporting director is judged on players come in. The last, last, last thing he would do is tell me if you play him it would cost us this much. He'd never, never do that. He never interferes with the line-up. It might be true, but if a journalist says it we have to balance it."

Nunez, who remains Liverpool's second-most expensive player, faces an uncertain future. He was linked with a departure, most prominently to Saudi Arabia, during the January transfer window. No move materialised and he is set to become a Premier League champion for the first time.

Liverpool only need to draw against Tottenham on Sunday to confirm their first league title since 2020 and their first in front of full stadiums since 1990.

Slot said of the game against struggling Spurs: "It's a big responsibility because we are aware of the fact last time this club won the league it was Covid times. Everybody is looking forward to Sunday but there's still a job to be done which is [to win] one point.

"That's what we know and hopefully our fans know as well. That they support us in best possible was as they have done all season and are aware of fact we still need a point. It's a nice game to look forward to."