Mueez Ajao
– Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he is not concerned about chances missed by Darwin Nunez in recent games, drawing comparisons with Robert Lewandowski’s early career at Borussia Dortmund.
– Summer signing Nunez, 23, has scored nine goals this season but has also squandered several big opportunities.
– Klopp says Lewandowski had similar mixed form when he signed him for Dortmund from Lech Poznan in 2010.
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– “There are a lot of similarities to be honest,” he said.
– “I think Lewy would tell the same story. We had shooting sessions where he didn’t finish off one. We had bets all the time for 10 euros – ‘if you score more than 10 times, I will pay you 10; if you don’t, you have to pay me’. My pocket was full of money!
– “It’s all about staying calm. When you see the potential, stay calm.”
– Nunez demonstrated why Liverpool had paid an initial £64m to sign the striker from Benfica in the summer when he hit seven goals in 10 games before the World Cup break.
– However, following the resumption of domestic football, Nunez has missed a number of big chances in the 3-2 loss at Manchester City in the League Cup on 22 December and again in the Boxing Day win (1-3) at Aston Villa.
– However, Klopp has no doubt Nunez will find his scoring touch again.
– “I think we all agree that the potential is so obvious,” he added.
– “I think it’s clear when you see the second chance, the big chance in the second half [against Villa], he can run a little bit on an angle and then he has a free choice, all these kind of things.
– “But it is all coming. You do it like this, the next time you do it like that. I had this situation with Lewy but it is not only Lewy. He is the obvious comparison, I understand.
– “It’s just about staying calm and I am super calm. The team is calm as well, the team is completely convinced and that’s really cool.”
