IT’S A NU-NO
Klopp: Darwin can’t focus on shoot-out for Prem golden boot
JURGEN KLOPP says £85million striker Darwin Nunez is not motivated by a top gun shoot-out with Erling Haaland for the Premier League’s Golden Boot.
But the Kop boss believes the race to be top scorer might well turn into an obsession for Nunez if Liverpool’s record buy is neck and neck with £51m Manchester City goal machine Haaland (right) on the title run-in.
Haaland hit the ground running on his Premier League debut at West Ham, scoring twice in a 2-0 victory.
Nunez was also off the mark on his debut at promoted Fulham, scoring Liverpool’s first in a 2-2 draw.
Blitz
Neutrals are drooling at the prospect of a goal blitz from the duo as they slug it out for the Golden Boot.
Klopp said: “I don’t know Darwin well enough yet but at the moment he is just concerned that he can score for us and set up goals for us. He isn’t bothered about comparisons or rivalries, not at all.
“But if there was a situation towards the end of the season about goalscoring or whatever then there could be, yes.
“I don’t think Mo Salah would look at that either yet.
“It was always clear that Haaland at City would work out. It’s a chanceproducing side and he is a finisher so it was always clear and that is why it is not a surprise.
“We just try to make sure that our football – the football idea we have – is obvious again and consistent.
“Because if we can do that it is still very uncomfortable to play against us and that is really my first concern. “I hope that happens again because from there we can then start thinking about twists and tweaks and how we can do this and how we can improve areas.
“But now the first thing for us is that we bring in the intensity and we will be fine.”
Nunez recorded the fastest speed of any Premier League player on the opening weekend –
36.53 kilometres per hour.
Klopp said: “I’m not surprised by how quick he was against Fulham.
“Before you get a player you get a few instructions about them and one of them is the speed. He’s quick.”
Shopping
Klopp says he feels “no joy” that teams like Chelsea and Manchester United are scrambling around trying to do last-minute shopping in the transfer window after Liverpool did key early business.
“I am not so sure if I care less but I follow and see when other teams do something or not, but I’m also the last to get the information.
“But no, no joy when other teams are yet to finish their business. It’s nothing to do with us. We cannot increase the rhythm or find money because other teams sign players and we say: ‘Oh, we need to do it because they signed him or we need him’.
“We have to be completely independent of whatever or whoever is doing and we are.”