Jurgen Klopp picks out ‘exceptional’ Darwin Nunez after Liverpool win

Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for striker Darwin Nunez after he played a crucial role in Liverpool’s emphatic 3-0 win against Brentford at Anfield.

Liverpool had suffered a minor blip in their past two games – drawing with Luton Town before losing in Europe against Toulouse – but bounced back in superb style against Thomas Frank’s men.

A brace from Mohammed Salah and a wonderful strike from Diogo Jota saw the Reds coast past a Brentford side who entered the game off the back of three successive wins.

The win for Klopp’s side moves them up to second in the table and now just one point of Premier League leaders Manchester City after their dramatic 4-4 draw with Chelsea on Sunday evening.

But Nunez’s performance most impressed the German boss after the game, with Klopp greatly impressed by the Uruguayan’s work-rate.

‘Outstanding! Outstanding,’ he said. ‘Everyone can see; look at him how he kept the ball for us, who would have thought he could do that for us last year?

‘[The] standout was Darwin because Brentford wanted long balls so he started the pressing. [His] work-rate was insane.’

While Nunez may not have got on the scoresheet – seeing two first-half attempts ruled out for offside – he was involved in the game’s opener, setting up Salah with a cute reverse pass.

The 24-year-old had three further shots in the game and produced two key passes as he led the line for the whole ninety minutes – just the third time he has done so in the league this season.

‘In all the moments we could keep the ball on the ground and we could play football, with Darwin [Nunez] connecting the game for us exceptionally, we were super dangerous,’ Klopp added.

Nunez endured a tough first season in Merseyside following his big-money move from Benfica in June 2022, with the 24-year-old failing to nail down a regular starting berth in the side.

But he has since found himself a regular fixture in Klopp’s revitalised starting XI this season, already notching up seven goals in all competitions this season compared to 13 throughout the entire last season.

Following an international break with his Uruguayan teammates, Nunez will face a huge test as Liverpool travel to take on leaders Man City at the Etihad Stadium.

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