Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised Darwin Nunez, the in-form forward who he believes can improve even further. The Uruguayan scored two stunning goals in the 5-1 Europa League victory over Sparta Prague on Thursday, and will be a key weapon for the Reds when they face Manchester City in a crucial Premier League clash on Sunday.
Nunez shrugged off the disappointment of losing penalty duties to Alexis Mac Allister, who converted the spot-kick that gave Liverpool the lead in the Czech capital. He then scored twice with brilliant strikes from distance and on the volley, taking his tally to five goals in four games. Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai also found the net as Liverpool hit top form ahead of City’s visit to Anfield, and secured a commanding advantage for the second leg of the last-16 tie.
Nunez has now netted 16 times in all competitions and is showing significant progress in his second season at Liverpool. Klopp warned City and Arsenal that the 24-year-old still has room for further development.
“He had an absolutely more than OK first season but he had to adapt,” Klopp explained in Prague. “That’s done now, he’s settled in the middle of this team.