Jurgen Klopp makes Darwin Nunez admission as he shuts down Erling Haaland comparison claim

Jurgen Klopp makes Darwin Nunez admission as he shuts down Erling Haaland comparison claim

Jurgen Klopp has revealed he expects even more from Darwin Nunez after reflecting on the striker’s start to Liverpool’s season

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ByTheo SquiresLiverpool FC Writer
01:00, 3 SEP 2023
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Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp celebrates with Darwin Nunez and goalkeeper Alisson Becker after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St. James Park
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp celebrates with Darwin Nunez and goalkeeper Alisson Becker after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St. James Park
Jurgen Klopp has challenged Darwin Nunez to build on his match-winning performance against Newcastle United when admitting Liverpool expect even more from the striker.

The Uruguayan scored 15 goals during his maiden season on Merseyside after joining the Reds for an initial £64m from Benfica last summer, but found himself out of the starting XI during the latter stages of the campaign. And despite a prolific pre-season, he has been limited to substitute action again so far this season.

However, that hasn’t stopped the 24-year-old from making an impact after he scored a memorable late brace from the bench to snatch a 2-1 victory for Liverpool against Newcastle last weekend.

Following that performance, there have been calls for Nunez to start when the Reds return to action against Aston Villa on Sunday. And while Klopp was giving nothing anyway regarding whether the striker could be handed a first start of the season against the Villans, he shared his delight with the Uruguayan’s start to the campaign.

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“For us, that game (against Newcastle) goes in two directions,” he told reporters. “The two goals were absolutely exceptional. In the end it looked so easy.

“The first goal is not even a chance. The second goal is a sensational run. Top, top pass from Mo but a sensational run, using the ball for a second out of his eyesight, because he turns the other way. Then with the next touch, the ball is in the perfect place.

“That’s goalscoring, that’s goalscoring. It’s all about the details and the little things. In the end, the first goal I think Nick Pope was surprised that he shot from there, that he can do that.

“And the second goal is unsaveable. If he hits the goalie, then he has a chance. All the rest and it’s not saveable. Exactly how he put it, over his arm. That’s unbelievable.

“It’s all there and we all know it. When they feel it, they feel it. That’s the moment. Can you force it? ‘He didn’t score for ages!’ I still know how it works but it’s so difficult to feel it. Obviously, he felt it.”

He continued: “He is so young, and he is even younger than he is actually. The mood of him obviously went through the roof after that (Newcastle), absolutely. Each second in training, stuff like this, that is always helpful.

“The season started with two goals more or less, and really good performances when he came on in the other games. Last year at that time he had a red card. That was the opposite start.

“Let me say, now we are in a much better place. In a world, a crazy world where nobody gets time anymore, we somehow managed to buy some time and now we go from here.”

And while Klopp also shut down any attempt to compare Nunez with Man City striker Erling Haaland, he admitted there is still more to come from the Uruguayan.

“We can (expect more from him) and that’s completely normal,” he said. “But it’s about the situation. Understand again that this is one game.

“Yes, a big one, for us especially really big. But a week later, it’s a story. We are a week away from it, pretty much. The next opponent is waiting. We all have different things we need to do in these kinds of games.

“No, no, we should not (compare to Haaland). He scored two goals. Two sensational goals. I have no clue, I have no clue (if he can hit the same figures as Haaland).

“He is a goal threat, a handful. His talent is top class. Top, top, top class. Now we have to make sure we can bring that all the time on the pitch.”

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Georginio Wijnaldum completes move to Al-Ettifaq from PSG as he reunites with former Liverpool teammates Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard in Saudi

By Max Carter Keall For Mailonline

Updated 00:52 BST 03 Sep 2023

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Former Liverpool and PSG player Georginio Wijnaldum joins Saudi side Al-Ettifaq

Wijnaldum links up with fellow former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson 

Both will play under Al-Ettifaq’s manager Steven Gerrard, another ex-Red 

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has completed a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq.

Wijnaldum spent last season on loan in Italy with Jose Mourinho’s Roma but returned to his parent club PSG ahead of the new campaign. 

The Dutch international was linked with PSV and Ajax, who were both initially said to be interested in taking the former Liverpool midfielder back to his homeland.

However, the 32-year-old’s move to Saudi Arabia will see him join two former Liverpool captains in Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard.

Wijnaldum joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in 2016 and went on to win the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020 with the Reds. 

Suited and booted 🕴

Gini Wijnaldum puts pen to paper for Ettifaq ✍#Ettifaq | #WijnaldumXEttifaq | @GWijnaldum | @sammisehal pic.twitter.com/txzzW7TYmm

— Ettifaq Club (@Ettifaq_EN) September 2, 2023

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Dutchman Wijnaldum played with captain Jordan Henderson at Liverpool from 2016-2021

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Dutchman Wijnaldum played with captain Jordan Henderson at Liverpool from 2016-2021

Wijnaldum joins the side currently sat fifth in the Saudi Pro League after five games

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Wijnaldum joins the side currently sat fifth in the Saudi Pro League after five games

The Dutchman registered 22 goals and 16 assists in 237 appearances on Merseyside but moved to Paris in 2021. 

He endured a difficult year at PSG before being loaned out to Roma, where he made just 14 appearances for the Serie A side. 

Gerrard took charge of Al-Ettifaq in the summer and, with the club also securing the signing of former Lyon striker Moussa Dembele. 

Al Ettifaq currently sit fifth in the Saudi top flight after five games. 

Share or comment on this article: Georginio Wijnaldum completes move to Al-Ettifaq from PSG as he reunites with former Liverpool midfield partner Jordan Henderson at the Saudi club

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