Jurgen Klopp insists that he is “really, really happy” with the development of Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and is backing the Urugyuan to start finding the back of the net again very soon. The Reds were knocked off the top of the Premier League table on Sunday when they could find no way past Manchester United’s rearguard effort and had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
That allowed Arsenal, who had earlier beaten Brighton 2-0, to finish the weekend as league leaders with the two sides set to face each other in a huge encounter at Anfield on Saturday that will determine who sits at the league summit on Christmas Day.
Nunez, who joined Liverpool from Benfica in an initial £65m deal before the start of the 2022-23 season, failed to find the target for the 10th match in a row for Klopp’s side, raising concerns about his lack of goal return.
The 24-year-old has seven goals to his name so far this season but only four have come in the Premier League across three matches.
But Klopp remains completely relaxed about the situation and believes that his South American striker is getting enough opportunities in matches, which will eventually deliver the volume of goals his big-money transfer suggested.
Speaking about Nunez in an interview with Prime Video, Klopp said: “He stays in the games. He’s super positive in and around the game. He was a bit, like, aggressive in a little bit the wrong way in the beginning. When things don’t go well.
“Now he’s completely relaxed in this moment. He is aggressive but in the right way. I’m really, really happy with what I see at the moment and the rest will come. So, we are completely calm, that’s how it is.
“Could have have scored more goals? Yes, of course. Could he have more situations? I don’t think so, he has all the moments. And now we have to work on the last touch.”
Nunez made an instant impact following his arrival on Merseyside, scoring against Manchester City in the 2022 Community Shield at Wembley, but he was sent off on his Anfield debut for headbutting Joachim Andersen after losing his cool with the Crystal Palace defender.
He went on to score nine Premier League goals in 29 appearances last season with 15 in all competitions. The Urugyuan showed his true quality back in August when he scored twice late on to clinch a dramatic 2-1 victory for Liverpool against Newcastle United at St James’ Park with two lethal finishes.
But with no goals in his last 10 appearances in a red shirt, he is now in battle to keep his place in the side ahead of Dutch forward Cody Gakpo, leaving Klopp with a decision to make before Mikel Arteta’s Gunners visit Anfield on Saturday evening.
Either side could find themselves top of the Premier League on Christmas Day with a win, but a draw would leave the door open for Aston Villa who can go top with a win a home to Sheffield United on Friday evening.
