Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp displayed unwavering confidence in Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez, despite a missed open goal opportunity during the club’s 5-1 victory over Toulouse in the Europa League. The Merseyside giants maintained a flawless record in the competition this season.
Nunez, who joined Liverpool from Benfica for a substantial fee in June last year, had the chance to add to his goal tally during the match against Ligue 1’s Toulouse but failed to convert. Nonetheless, he put on a commendable overall performance at Anfield.
With a goal in the first half, Nunez contributed significantly to Liverpool’s triumph, helping them extend their lead to five points at the top of Group E. Goals from Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, and Mohamed Salah further secured the resounding victory.
Speaking about Nunez’s performance, Klopp stated, “He played incredible. Honestly, in this moment, I couldn’t care less that he hits the post in that moment because everything before was super-convincing, was absolutely clear. How he took the defender away, how he passed the goalie, it was a perfect situation … He’s a happy boy or man in the moment, and you can see that every day. And now we have to make sure that it stays like that.”
Klopp also expressed his optimism about 21-year-old midfielder Gravenberch, highlighting his impressive performance after Nunez’s missed chance. Gravenberch, who joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich, had his first back-to-back start in 18 months.
“I really like him as a boy and as a player, and it’s really nice to see how much he starts believing in himself again. That’s obviously very important for each player but for a young player especially,” Klopp said of Gravenberch.
Reflecting on Liverpool’s season, Klopp emphasized the team’s exciting playstyle and the strong camaraderie among the players. He noted that the team’s on-pitch performance is complemented by essential off-pitch rebuilding, which he believes is progressing positively.
Liverpool currently sits in fourth place in the Premier League, just three points behind the table leaders. Their next fixture is against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
