Jurgen Klopp refused to criticise Darwin Nunez after seeing the Liverpool forward miss an open goal in the Reds’ 5-1 victory over Toulouse at Anfield.
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Uruguayan striker on target in big winAlso hit post with the goal gapingCoach happy with overall performanceWHAT HAPPENED?
The Premier League giants recorded an emphatic win in their latest Europa League fixture courtesy of efforts from Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo, Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah. While there was plenty to admire from Liverpool as an attacking force, the game will be best remembered for a shocking miss from Uruguayan frontman Nunez.
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In the 65th minute, Nunez did all of the hard work as he skipped past the last Toulouse defender, rounded the goalkeeper and had a gaping net at is mercy. He somehow managed to hit the post when it looked easier to score, with the South American ending up on his knees with his head in his hands as Dutch colleague Gravenberch got him off the hook by firing in the rebound.
GettyWHAT THEY SAID
Klopp was reluctant to point fingers at Nunez afterwards, as he had already netted his fifth goal of the season before putting on a “slapstick” comedy routine, with the Liverpool boss telling reporters: “He played incredible. Honestly, in this moment I don’t think I could care less that he hits the post in that moment because everything before was super convincing. He was absolutely clear, how he took the defender away, how he passed the goalkeeper, it was a perfect situation. He played really good, the goal he scored, the situation he was involved, dropping into midfield, staying on the ball, all these kind of things. So there were a lot of good things and he is in a good moment, and obviously for us that is important. So really pleased for him with the performance. Yes, it’s a bit of slapstick that the ball doesn’t go in but Ryan finished it off and then it’s cool. But, as I said before the game, he’s a happy boy – or man – at the moment and you can see that everyday and now we have to make sure that it stays like that.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Liverpool, who sit fourth in the Premier League table at present, will be back in domestic action on Sunday when playing host to Nottingham Forest.