Anfield Watch
·27 October 2023
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·27 October 2023
Jurgen Klopp heaped praise on Darwin Nuñez after Liverpool's 5-1 win over Toulouse at Anfield, insisting he 'couldn't care less' about the striker's open-goal miss.
The Uruguayan started up front for Klopp's side in their third Europa League fixture, scoring the hosts' third on the night as they kept up their 100% record in Group E.
It was another impressive display from Nuñez who now has nine goal contributions in 12 games in 2023/24 so far.
However, the 24-year-old could (and should) have doubled his personal tally when he ran through on goal in the 65th minute, rounding Toulouse keeper Guillaume Restes before hitting the post with the net at his mercy.
Fortunately, Ryan Gravenberch was on hand to finish from the rebound.
Speaking in his press conference after the win, Klopp hailed Nuñez's all-round display and admitted that the 'slapstick' in the build-up to his side's fourth didn't worry him at all.
"He played incredible," Klopp said. "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 played really good.
"The goal he scored, the situations he was involved in, dropping into midfield, staying on the ball, all these kind of things. There were a lot of good things and he's in a good moment and that's for us obviously important. Really pleased for him with the performance.
"Yes, it's a bit of slapstick that the ball doesn't go in and then Ryan finished it off, that is cool. I said it before the game, 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."
Liverpool face Toulouse again (away) in their next Europa League outing on Thursday, 9 November, where they can secure qualification to the knockout rounds.
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