Jurgen Klopp saluted Darwin Nunez for his match-winning response to taunts from Nottingham Forest supporters as Liverpool secured a major 1-0 victory on Saturday.
The Uruguay international headed in a 99th-minute goal at the City Ground to ensure an injury-hit Reds side secured their fourth win in 11 days to extend their Premier League advantage to four points at the top.
Nunez has missed the last fortnight after a muscle injury in the 4-1 win at Brentford last month but returned as a second-half substitute to jeers from the home end, unflatteringly comparing him to ex-Reds striker Andy Carroll.
Nunez arrived hearing chants of “s*** Andy Carroll” echoing around the ground but Klopp said his stoppage-time winner was the perfect riposte from a player who has now scored 14 for the campaign.
“It is super important, a goal that gives you the three points is always super decisive and especially for him, super deserved,” the Liverpool boss said.
“Before people start singing that song more often it’s the best way to calm it immediately down and when they sing it Darwin responds the way we he did today.
“Before the goal he had super moments, I think there was one at a set-piece if I am right [which brought] a sensational save from the goalkeeper, that was his chance as well, so he was really immediately in the game in a really difficult game for us.
Klopp added: “Does Darwin understand [the chant]? I understand it. I don’t know if he does, I think he does, understand it, yes. So it is like how I said [scoring] is the best answer.”
Liverpool travel to Sparta Prague for a Europa League tie on Thursday before hosting title rivals Manchester City next Sunday.
