Jurgen Klopp has admitted he has no idea how good Darwin Nunez can be after the striker returned from a mild hamstring injury to score in Liverpool's midweek win over Ajax.
The Uruguayan has faced plenty of criticism from outside sources since completing his £64m move to Anfield, not aided by being sent off on his home debut against Crystal Palace back in August. Yet he has still returned six goals and an assist in his first 13 appearances for the Reds, having made only seven starts, and has scored four goals from his last five appearances.
And reflecting on the 23-year-old's opening months with Liverpool, Klopp shared his excitement with Nunez's progress as he hit back at criticism of the striker's finishing, having also missed an open goal against Ajax, and supposed poor first touch.
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"It's a massive step. But it's like this. The problem is not that the boys need extra long to settle," he told reporters. "There are different situations for the players, for specific players.
"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.
"Then he starts pretty well against City. Coming on and scoring an important goal. Next game, he scores against Fulham. Then he has the red card. He feels embarrassed for himself. He did that definitely, everybody would react like this.
"From not being 100% confident, getting a knock like this is not cool. Which he can blame nobody else for because he did it. Nobody else. Then he has to start new.
"For all these things, his numbers are incredible to be absolutely honest. I'm pretty sure his xG is pretty high. He had a few chances he missed but he scored as well. He's involved in a lot of finishing moments. The steps he are making are really big and that means automatically he settles in more and more."
Klopp continued: "It's been a great month for him. He had a great month. Nobody knows (how good he can be). He doesn't know. It's so exciting but he has to stay fit and be available all the time.
"He wasn't against Nottingham. That's all important in the life of a professional football player. We have to work in all different areas. The potential is incredible. The attitude is really good, he is a real worker.
"I know there are some people out there who aren't sure of him technically or his first touch. It's incredible. He doesn't bring it on the pitch in the moment all the time.
"First touch might be here or there sometimes but it's nothing to do with technique. It's just a bit too late, awareness or orientation. But they're all possible to learn and develop. That's where we are at. It's really exciting. Where it could go, I have no idea."
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