1 year ago
352 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hailed Darwin Nunez after his display against Aston Villa yesterday and labelled the striker ‘unstoppable’.
Klopp’s side put in an impressive display at Villa Park as they deservedly came away with a 3-1 win.
Goals from Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Bajcetic secured an important three points for Liverpool as they closed the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham to just five points.
Nunez put in another industrious display as he led the line for Klopp’s side but was once again lacking his finishing touch.
The 23-year-old wasted two good opportunities in the game, dragging one effort wide of the post and put the other straight at Villa shot stopper Robin Olsen.
But once again the Uruguayan impressed with his running off the ball and caused the Villa defence plenty of problems. And Klopp has praised Nunez for his displays and says he’s not worried by his lack of cutting edge in front of goal.
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Klopp on Nunez
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Klopp was asked about Nunez’s recent displays and whether the striker just needs a goal to build his confidence.
“Different things, of course it is like this, you are a human being and it doesn’t go easy that he can now close his eyes, hit the ball, and have it go in. Strikers have that from time to time, he didn’t have that yet, but I’m now not only since yesterday in the business and I had some strikers around and I know the start [of] the scoring at the beginning is really not important.
“There are so many other things that are much more important, because in the end you look back [and] you cannot imagine how [many] big chances they missed in the beginning when I work with them, you just have to stay calm.
“We are completely calm… what I really love and it’s so special that in the third goal, I think pretty much everybody here, if you’re ever in a situation like that, after the game he had where he just missed the last little touch to score a goal, we all would have just hammered the ball and try to force it. And he passed the ball to Stefan, so we can score the third goal, that makes him really special, the work-rate he put in, the spaces, the depth he creates for us.
“Pretty much he’s unstoppable in the moment when we keep the ball and pass it in the right moment, there’s no defender who can really catch up speed-wise. I know all the stories around and it’s all fine, but we are completely calm, everything will be fine. He played an exceptional game tonight and we won 3-1 and that’s all that counts,” as quoted by Liveprool’s official website.
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Nunez has certainly struggled in front of goal of late but there’s no doubt that he’s contributed massively to Liverpool’s improved run of form.
The former Benfica star has managed five goals and three assists in 11 Premier League appearances, which isn’t bad for a player who is seemingly lacking confidence in the final third.
Klopp seems to be more than happy with his contributions too, which should be Nunez’s main priority right now.
Nunez will seemingly face added pressure for a place in the side after PSV announced they have agreed a deal with Liverpool over the transfer of Cody Gakpo last night.
But with Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz sidelined, Nunez should get plenty of opportunities to secure his place in Klopp’s starting XI before they return.
The post ‘Special’: Jurgen Klopp hails 23-year-old Liverpool player after Villa win, says he’s ‘unstoppable’ appeared first on The Boot Room.
