Jurgen Klopp says Darwin Nunez is in a "really good moment" at Liverpool and has fully adapted to life at the club following his big-money transfer from Benfica.
Nunez arrived at Anfield in a deal worth up to £85m off the back of a breakout 34-goal season. But, having not long turned 23 and tasked with learning a new league and language, the Uruguayan was not an instant hit – he was sent off for a headbutt on his Premier League home debut – and finished the campaign with nine league goals amid several minor injury and fitness complaints.
But 2023/24 has so far seen improvement from Nunez. He already has eight direct goal contributions in 11 appearances to his name across all competitions, compared to 19 in 42 last season.
"He is just in a really good moment," Klopp told a press conference on Wednesday.
"Darwin, yes, there was [time] necessary to adapt to a new country, new language, new team, all of these kinds of things. All of that is long gone. He is in the middle of the team and everyone is really happy with him, I am very happy with him."
Chances are strong that Nunez will start Thursday's Europa League game against Toulouse, having begun on the bench when Premier League football resumed over the weekend behind Luis Diaz.
"We had to make a decision before the game of who out of the two would start. Lucho or Darwin? Darwin had some cramp at the end of the international game," Klopp explained.
"I spoke to both and they both accepted it. Lucho's job was to create, prepare and do what he could to cause as much trouble as possible. Darwin comes on and kills the game off, that was the idea and it worked really well. But you could see it was intense for him even with 20-odd minute.
"It was the right decision and it is always tough for the boys to have these kinds of travels before games but he is fine now and he is ready for this game, the next game I would say. That is good. I think he is really happy at the moment as we are really happy with him."
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This article was originally published on 90min as Jurgen Klopp explains reason for noticeable Darwin Nunez improvement.