Jurgen Klopp urges Darwin Nunez to deal with ‘really physical’ Premier League defenders better and use their talk towards him against them… with striker set to return for Merseyside derby after serving three-match ban
- Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp urges Darwin Nunez to better deal with defenders
- Klopp thinks striker will be targeted by defenders trying to get him sent off
- Nunez was sent off against Crystal Palace for a headbutt on Joachim Andersen
- Uruguayan will be available for selection against Everton after suspension ends
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants Darwin Nunez to use being targeted by opposition defenders to his advantage.
The Reds striker returns to the fold for Saturday’s Merseyside derby at Everton after serving a three-match ban for his red card on his home debut against Crystal Palace.
The former Benfica man lost his cool and headbutted Joachim Andersen, which earned him an instant dismissal in the August 15 clash.
Darwin Nunez was sent off against Crystal Palace for headbutting defender Joachim Andersen
Jurgen Klopp has urged the summer signing from Benfica to be ready to be antagonised
The eyes of Premier League defenders would have lit up when they saw how easily the 23-year-old was triggered and they will surely try to antagonise him.
But Klopp says if the opposition become preoccupied with trying to get a reaction out of Nunez then he can take advantage.
‘Our ideas and how we want to think in these situations is that we pay back with football, and that is how it is,’ he said.
Nunez will be up against Everton defenders James Tarkwoski (left) and Cono Coady (right)
‘I don’t think (James) Tarkowski and (Conor) Coady are famous for too much this kind of talking during the game. Most of the things he doesn’t understand anyway, but you don’t have to be too creative with it.
‘I don’t think the two boys are like this, but who knows? We will see.
‘If Darwin plays then he has to be ready for these things, definitely, that is clear, but when a player is talking to you a lot or is really physical, then he is not in his own game, and he (Nunez) has to use these kind of moments as well.
Nunez joined Liverpool from Benfica during the summer transfer window for a club record fee
‘If the other one is too busy wanting to distract him, you just have to use it from a football point of view.
‘For the Crystal Palace game, when the defender is searching for this constant contact, then go from there and you decide when you start the movement, these kind of things.’
Klopp revealed he has spoken to the Uruguayan about keeping his emotions in check, but has not gone overboard.
Nunez has not played since the game against Palace due to his Premier League suspension
‘He is a wonderful young man, honestly, but he has emotions as well,’ he added. ‘So making a mistake, we didn’t speak for the full 15 days to him about it telling him, ‘you have to calm down’.
‘I think Luis Suarez told him, I’m not sure they spoke privately but probably they did via news and using some media. That will happen but it happens to others as well, that’s how it is, you just have to ignore it and use it.
‘It was a lot that came together for the boy, it is all new, it was first home game, a lot of excitement, the emotional level you go into a game is already high, you don’t need to be a bit too emotional.
‘The two weeks helped for sure, you can see it. Will it never happen again? I don’t know, but I am pretty sure nothing will happen in the next game.’
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