03 March 2024 , 14:05
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Former Anfield favourite Luis Suarez has lavished praise on compatriot Darwin Nunez after his last-minute heroics for Liverpool to maintain their crucial advantage at the Premier League summit.
It had appeared that a depleted Reds team had run aground in their title quest in the 98th minute against Nottingham Forest with the score locked at 0-0. Missing multiple key men amid an injury crisis for the Merseysiders, the return of their bustling No. 9 proved timely at the City Ground.
In a typically menacing cameo from the bench for Jurgen Klopp's side, Nunez had already come close to breaking the deadlock on a couple of occasions after being introduced for the last half an hour. However, his tenacity was rewarded in virtually the last move of the game as he headed home an inviting Alexis Mac Allister cross.
Rapturous celebrations ensued in the away stand as the travelling fans hailed the heroics of their Uruguayan hero as he notched his 14th goal of the campaign in true style. His efforts seemingly left his countryman Suarez delighted thousands of miles across the Atlantic as he heralded the striker after Inter Miami's latest game.
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Coming off the back of a masterclass in his third outing for the Herons, the 37-year-old revealed that he had been watching as his old team pulled off a dramatic victory. Speaking to reporters after Vice City's 5-0 win over Orlando City, he even made a major assertion about Nunez' standing in world football.
Beaming, the former Barcelona marksman revealed that it was a day of double celebrations for him as he spoke in the aftermath of breaking his duck for his new team. He said: "Yes I saw. I am so happy for Liverpool and I am so happy for Darwin. He is one of the best strikers in the world today."
The ex-Benfica striker's performance against Forest clearly impressed his manager Klopp also, with the German waxing lyrical about Nunez's resilience. Mocking chants of 'you’re just a s*** Andy Carroll' rung around the City Ground at points during the second half but the forward's head coach revealed this left the star fired up even more.
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NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates after scoring during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool FC at City Ground on March 02, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)"It’s such an important goal, which gives you three points. It’s always super-decisive and, especially for him, super-deserved," Klopp said as he issued a defiant message to the striker's detractors. "Before people start singing that song more often, it’s the best way to immediately calm it down.
"But they can sing it if Darwin responds like he did today. Before that he had really good moments. (He forced) a sensational save off the goalie, he was immediately in the game," he said, before clarifying that he was aware of the taunts from the home fans, adding: "I understood it. Yes, I think he understands it, so that’s the best answer."
Hailing his team for their efforts after also successfully navigating the Carabao Cup final, which went into extra time, and a tricky FA Cup tie versus Southampton in the same week, Klopp said: "How the boys fought through that is really special. The fourth game was the toughest. It was really an unbelievable effort. The boys put in a proper, proper shift."