Jurgen Klopp has reiterated how pleased he is with Darwin Núñez’s continued development at Liverpool, stressing how “permanent” the striker is at his current club.
Nunes arrived as a key signing for Klopp’s side in the summer of 2022 and endured a mixed first season.
Despite scoring 15 goals in all competitions, the Uruguayan’s first season was marred by inconsistency and fitness issues. And he was sent off for a header in his first Premier League game.
Nunes is set to reach new heights after taking over the number 9 shirt from Roberto Firmino at the start of the 2023/24 season. The striker scored key goals, including a late strike against Newcastle, and established himself as Klopp’s preferred central attacking option.
However, the former Benfica star has now gone 10 games without conceding in all competitions and questions are once again being raised over his poor finishing. Despite the current lack of goals, Klopp is not fazed by his leader’s overall effort.
The Liverpool manager had this to say in an interview with Amazon Prime’s Ben Foster: “The biggest difference between the Darwin of today and the Darwin of yesteryear is obviously he’s completely in the right place as a human being.
“[The Fulham game] is a very good example. There were occasions when he could have played better, other occasions where he did everything well and the bar was about an inch away.“Trent’s ball, reverse, Leno’s reverse, in; His ball, header, out.
What is the real difference?”Every moment went well. His understanding and involvement in our third goal, Mo, Mo [Wataru’s] header, was very important. “He stays in the game and is very positive in and out of the game.”
Klopp said he was “very pleased” and “completely calm” with his striker’s form, adding that the only thing missing from his game was the “finishing touch”.The director continued: “He was a bit aggressive at first when things went wrong.
Now he was completely at ease at this point. It’s aggressive, but it’s moving in the right direction.“Yes, I am very happy to see now. And the rest will come. We are completely calm.
This is. “Could he have scored more goals?” Sure. Could it have other conditions? I don’t think so. “He has every moment. Now we have to work on the last point.”
