Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Darwin Nunez must keep working to improve after the Liverpool forward produced a mixed performance in the Reds' 2-1 defeat against Leeds United.
The Uruguayan missed a handful of opportunities to score during the game at Anfield, with Nunez squandering four chances, including a golden one where he should've added to his tally. Mohamed Salah played the ball through to the forward, who had just Illan Meslier to beat, but the Leeds goalkeeper stood tall to save his effort.
Ian Wright said on BBC's Match of the Day : "I think Nunez has got to do better there, he has to lift it over him." However, Nunez provided four key passes and provided a creative spark in the Liverpool attack. It allowed the Reds to be effective in transition too, with Nunez being the focal point for the likes of Salah and Firmino to feed off him.
Although he didn't eventually get his goal, there were positives from Nunez's performance and Klopp has urged him to work hard to achieve his objectives. H
Klopp said: "Trust me, nobody knows how good Darwin can get, he doesn't know. He has to stay fit and be available all the time, we have to work on this, on all different areas."
Nunez showed that he is willing to work hard to improve as he performed an incredible lung bursting run to stop Leeds on the counter-attack in the defeat on Saturday. A clip circulated on social media of Liverpool losing the ball from a corner, which led to a fast Leeds break, with Jack Harrison at the forefront.
Harrison carried the ball a good 50 yards, before he was closed down by Nunez, who sprinted the entire length of the pitch to make the intervention. Thiago and Salah were also back to help the Liverpool back-line, who managed to defend well in the end.
But Nunez's work-rate should not be underestimated as he showed the attitude which has Klopp convinced he will come good.
Speaking on Friday, Klopp added: "Darwin came here after a short break in the summer. Arriving in Asia, don't speak a word (of English), and being young, and Liverpool is a big club, and it's a big step for him, and he was expensive.
"Then all of a sudden he plays the first game and everyone is looking at him. It's like the whole place is dark and there is only one light and it's a spotlight on you.
"We have to deal with that. We all expect them to deal immediately with it. Be prepared. 'Did you cost that? Okay, you have to be prepared.' It's not like this. That's the start. Trying to get fit, step by step, with new training and new, different things in training. Different demands."
