Subscribe to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter and receive it for free in your inbox.
Enroll in Miguel’s Delaney’s complimentary weekly bulletin.
Jurgen Klopp commended Darwin Nunez for his determination in playing through injury during Liverpool’s 4-1 victory against Chelsea on Wednesday. However, Nunez’s availability for Sunday’s match against Arsenal is uncertain.
Klopp announced that the Uruguayan forward departed Anfield wearing a protective boot. During the game, he hit the goal frame four times, including a penalty, but also assisted in Luis Diaz’s goal in the final minutes.
The manager of Liverpool stated that the forward, who was bought for £64m, was impacted by his missed penalty. He also praised the player’s determination to continue despite sustaining a foot injury in the first half.
Klopp mentioned a minor incident that may affect Darwin’s availability. Someone accidentally stepped on his foot after 20 minutes into the game, causing him great pain. Darwin only took off his boot after the game and left the stadium wearing a different type of boot.
“The X-ray did not show any fractures, but there is swelling present. We need to assess if he can fit his foot into a football boot. This process will take some time. I did not see him this morning, so we will have to be patient.”
Nunez attempted 11 shots but was unable to score against Chelsea. He also missed a penalty right before half time. Klopp stated that this experience affected Nunez, as he is a human being.
“It would be unusual if the missed penalty did not affect him, but he is aware that he will have another opportunity. The missed penalty definitely affected him, but the fact that he continued playing through the pain speaks volumes. I do not judge Darwin solely based on his missed penalty, but also for his assist to Lucho.”
“It was a crucial moment in the game that had a significant impact on our team. The player made a great run, beating the defender and passing the ball to Lucho for a successful finish. This display of skill and determination, despite previous setbacks, is a testament to his exceptional football abilities. He remained focused and determined, which ultimately led to our success.”
Nunez set a new record in the Premier League by striking the woodwork on four occasions during their match against Chelsea.
“I am extremely pleased with him. The story is intriguing, I completely understand. While breaking the crossbar record may not be ideal, it just goes to show that you are very close to scoring. This is exactly the situation Darwin finds himself in. He will score.”
Klopp is presented with other difficult decisions for his team selection against Arsenal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, who are typically the preferred full backs, are both eligible to start after recovering from injuries. However, Joe Gomez has been performing well recently and Conor Bradley had an outstanding match against Chelsea where he scored a goal and assisted in two others.
“It’s the initial point of the season where we have a pleasant predicament of having more players to choose from than we can put in the starting lineup,” stated Klopp. “But this is not an issue, it’s actually a positive thing.”
The source is from the Independent website.
