‘He was less coordinated’ – Why Darwin Nunez is coming good for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp talks up ‘massive steps’ taken by £64m striker after stunning volleyed goal against West Ham

The Uruguay international was acquired by the Reds from Benfica in a big-money transfer that was completed in the summer of 2022. He hit 15 goals across his debut campaign in England, but also missed a number of big chances and saw questions asked of his long-term value to Klopp’s cause.

Nunez started the current campaign on the bench, but did bag a match-winning brace in a dramatic win at Newcastle and has now scored in back-to-back outings against LASK and West Ham – with a stunning volley fired home in a 3-1 victory over the Hammers after being picked out by a clever chipped pass from Alexis Mac Allister.

Klopp told reporters when asked what has changed for Nunez in the 2023-24 campaign: “[He has made] massive steps in the last few weeks,” the manager told reporters.

"He’s a threat. You all saw the goal, it was probably pretty good, right? That was really strong. He was always available for us. It’s super important that we have now kind of a ball-player. Chip the ball, get it on the chest, from there – like we scored the third [against] Wolves for example, I think it was a similar situation – it’s super important for us.

"And the defensive work he puts in now, that’s probably the main difference. He always wanted it, but he was less coordinated. Now it looks much better, we found a way that we can do it around him. Curtis [Jones] and Dom [Szoboszlai] help there a lot, with how flexible they are in that way. Really good, absolutely.”

Liverpool will be back in action on Wednesday when facing Leicester in the third round of the Carabao Cup, before then taking in a testing trip to in-form Tottenham next weekend – a side sat just two points behind them in the Premier League table.