LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp says Darwin Nunez has improved significantly in his second season at Liverpool after the Uruguayan’s stunning goal helped the Reds to a 3-1 win over West Ham last night.
After a sudden drop in standards last season, Liverpool looked to shine again in the opening weeks of the new season with five wins and a draw in the first six Premier League games seeing Klopp’s men two points behind Manchester City at the top of the league.
Nunez’s two goals as a substitute against Newcastle last month played a major role in those points and he produced another quality second with the decisive goal against the Hammers.
Alexis Mac Allister’s header broke West Ham’s defense and Nunez met it with a volley for his fourth goal of the season.
The 24-year-old struggled to meet his 75 million euro price tag during his first season at Anfield and did not start in the starting line-up at the start of the season as Klopp had other options in attack.
“A big step in the last few weeks. He threatened a lot. You saw that goal,” said Klopp.
“The defensive work he’s doing now, he’s probably the main difference. He’s often willing, but he’s less composed. Now he looks better and we’ve found a way to work around him.”
Liverpool have come from behind in four of their first seven games of the season.
This time they took the lead through Mohamed Salah’s penalty but were tied before the break following Jarrod Bowen’s flying header.
Nunez restored the lead after an hour and Diogo Jota made it three points five minutes from time.