Jurgen Klopp believes Darwin Nunez has "frightening potential" that makes him "afraid" of what his star striker can achieve.
The Uruguay international had a difficult first season at Liverpool, as he struggled to settle into a team that had - by their own impeccable standards - a poor campaign. They recorded their first finish outside of the Premier League's top four since 2016.
There were doubts about the Reds' record £80million signing from Benfica. But he has blown them away this time around, with some spectacular performances that have showcased an outrageous talent.
Yet Klopp reckons that is only a fraction of what Nunez can deliver for the Merseyside club. The Liverpool boss said: "He's in a very good moment, but it's still only the start for him. I'm a bit afraid of the highs he could reach because there is so much there, it's crazy. Now we've found the real starting moment and let's work from here."
Asked what he meant by suggesting he was afraid, Klopp considered for a second and suggested it was the forward's frightening potential he was referring to. Two late goals at Newcastle earlier this season showed just how devastating he can be, and another spectacular strike put Liverpool into the EFL Cup quarter final on Wednesday.
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Nunez's manager admits he has no idea what Nunez can achieve. "The speed, the finishing skills, the desire he has for that… when he’s fit he is really fit so he really can go and go again," he said. "And that’s all the package, you just don’t know where he will end up.
Nunez is enjoying a good campaign on Merseyside (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Do you think Darwin Nunez will fulfil his potential at Liverpool? Let us know in the comments below!
"So probably I mean that, yes, his potential is frightening, absolutely. In the first year, he comes in for really big money and we all know, it shows again players need time - or maybe some people forget that again! Now he has had a good start to the season and he has scored fantastic goals, different goals, all kinds of goals, so of course he’s in a different moment."
Klopp believes the close bond between Liverpool’s fab South American four - Nunez, Alisson, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz - has helped the young Uruguay striker to settle down to life at Anfield. And he revealed that he has taken a picture of the quartet sitting together as close friends, which he has sent to the biggest newspaper on that continent… showing just how bonded the four players from four different nations can be.
“They are really close with each other, and that helps them all," added Klopp. "I asked them which is the biggest newspaper in South America, because I made a picture (of the four) and I should send it there, that’s how the world should look!”
Klopp will rotate his team again for the visit to Luton, with Nunez sure to come into the starting line up, along with Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mac Allister, and Alisson. The manager will leave the decision Diaz’s return to the player himself.
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