Jurgen Klopp has defended Darwin Nunez after the forward was left repeatedly frustrated in front of goal in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Chelsea.
Taking a match-high 11 shots, the Uruguayan became the first player in Premier League history, to hit the woodwork four times in a single match
The striker would bounce back at least, setting up Luis Diaz’s for the Reds’ fourth goal
Nunez now boasts 11 goals and 11 assists from 34 appearances so far this season.
Klopp admitted that Nunez was downbeat at half-time following his failed spot-kick.
Klopp was full of praise for how many chances the striker creates, reiterating his belief that it’s only a matter of time before he starts finishing more in front of goal.
Klopp
“Insane first half, unbelievable. Outstanding,” he said. “Why do we speak about Darwin? Obviously because he has so many situations where he missed.
“It is the first time since we count, a player hits the woodwork four times in a game. Yeah, now think you are in his boots, how that feels. Now missing a penalty, you could see at half-time he was really upset with himself.
“And then missing a header from close range, but then setting up a goal. He stays in the game.
"There was never a striker who barely could walk and everyone asks, ‘What is he doing?’ and becomes the final picture of himself. This is the way it works.
“It’s just crazy that he creates that many. Imagine for a second he would take them on all.
"The numbers would be absolutely insane, to an extent where we wouldn’t understand it anymore so it’s normal.
“For us, it’s unimportant. We scored four goals, who cares if we could have scored a fifth or sixth? It’s really not important. We need to win football games and he will score, he has scored already.
“And setting up in a really important moment, the fourth goal, because 3-2 or 4-1, that’s a big difference. That makes him the player he is for us and the rest will come, definitely.”
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