Despite Darwin Nunez’s sensational performance against Newcastle, Jurgen Klopp is reportedly not planning to change his selection decision.
Jurgen Klopp has acknowledged that Darwin Nunez is “not happy” with his lack of starts in Liverpool’s first three games of the season against Chelsea, Bournemouth, and Newcastle. Klopp chose to start Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo in the forward positions in the opening Premier League fixtures, leaving Nunez on the bench.
Despite Nunez’s frustration, he made a strong case for himself by scoring two late goals as a substitute to secure Liverpool a thrilling 2-1 away win against Newcastle. However, Klopp has indicated that he will continue to rotate between Nunez, Gakpo, and Jota as the team adjusts to a new style of play with its revamped squad.
Klopp commented after the game, “He was obviously fired up about not starting and put all his energy into those two shots. It’s clear he is not happy – how can a player be happy when he’s not starting? The thing is, it’s early in the season, we need to find stability, we need to find the formation and get results.”
Klopp emphasized that as the season progresses, there will be more playing time for all the players due to the intense schedule, even if Nunez had started the first three games. The manager stressed the importance of finding a new way of playing for the team, which is still adapting to its new composition.
Since joining Liverpool last summer for £64 million from Benfica, Nunez has faced high expectations to score goals. During the 2022/2023 season, he scored 15 goals in 42 appearances for Liverpool, and while he excelled in various aspects of his game, there were criticisms about his composure in front of goal. However, his performance against Newcastle showcased his confidence and class as he secured a dramatic comeback victory for Liverpool with a complete striker’s display.