Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp talks about Darwin Nunez and his scope of improvement in the final third
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has given his verdict on summer signing Darwin Nunez and what he needs to do to improve his game in the final third.
Since joining Liverpool earlier this summer, Nunez has not had an easy transition into his Premier League career. Initially taking time to settle down, the 23-year-old Uruguayan now looks like he is starting to find his feet on Merseyside.
Even though his game is still raw, world-class talents like Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino around him will certainly help the former SL Benfica striker to smoothly transition into becoming a potent threat in the box.
All in all, Nunez has made 17 appearances for the Reds across all competitions and has seven goals and two assists to his name. It is refreshing to see him get on the scoresheet and prove his critics wrong.
The player’s defensive work rate for someone who is almost like a goal-poacher is extremely commendable. Klopp spoke to the club’s website about Nunez’s defensive abilities in the top half of the pitch and here is what he had to say:
“Yes, we know that Darwin can be a real threat offensively. He is actually. Defensively, for sure, there is space for improvement because it is not natural to him to defend that position.”
In context to his pressing in the top half of the pitch, wherein his predecessor Sadio Mane was second to none, Darwin still has work to do and that is what the gaffer is trying to bring light to. However, too much focus on that aspect of his game this early in his Liverpool career might be a hindrance to his goal-scoring abilities is also something the manager has thought about.
Nunez’s link-up play
Darwin had to work hard to find his form in front of the goal and attention to other aspects of the game might or might not be a cause of concern in the same. Nunez’s link-up play with Andy Robertson and/or Kostas Tsimikas on the left flank will obviously take time as he is still not up to date with the nitty-gritty of the Premier League.
Slowly but surely, Nunez is getting there and hopefully, the Reds are treated to more goals and assists from the Uruguayan in the coming days.
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The 23-year-old is part of Uruguay’s squad for the World Cup later this month and would hope to do well for his country in Qatar.
