KLOPP BACKS NUNEZ
Under- fifi re striker has had a good season says departing Reds gaffer
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp launched a concerted defence of under- fire striker Darwin Nunez after speculation about his future escalated.
Following Sunday’s 4- 2 win over Tottenham, the Uruguay international, who missed a relatively- simple one- on- one with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after coming on as a substitute, deleted all pictures of him playing for Liverpool from his Instagram account.
That led to increased conjecture about the 24- year- old, who has enjoyed a mixed couple of seasons since joining from Benfica for a potential club- record £ 85million transfer fee.
But Klopp believes the forward’s goals – he has 33 in 94 appearances – and assists do not give a fullyrounded picture of his contribution since arriving at Anfield.
“It must be external because I don’t know about this. There is no speculation right now, it’s just a situation we are in,” he said.
“Darwin was definitely not happy missing that chance. He is unlucky, let me say that. He was unlucky in so many situations where he is doing everything right but the ball still doesn’t go in.
“That’s really tough for a young man. He has big expectations on himself. There is no alternative than going through it, that’s what he’s doing right now.
“We try to help him with all we can but you have to go through it, everyone has to go through this. That’s part of a footballer’s career.
“All his problem is that he is that good, he is constantly in these moments. If he was less good, he would not have chances. People just say, ‘ That’s not great’.
“How many goals did he score? He is not too bad with numbers right. Eighteen goals ( in all competitions). They are not bad numbers.
“Because of his quality everyone says, ‘ Ah, again, again’ because we did not score. If somebody else would have scored in that moment and it would not have felt that bad.
“Nobody likes it but it’s part of a career.”
Confident
Klopp will be on the touchline for the penultimate match of his Liverpool career and will have to ensure he does not get booked if he does not want to be banned for his farewell game at Anfield.
However, he is confident he can manage that.
“I know that already for a long time. We could turn it around and say I only got two yellow cards – some of my colleagues got suspended, right? I got calmer over the years, obviously,” he added.
“I don’t need to ( be on the touchline for the last day) but it would be cool that I could do that. It will not be from my side, I will try absolutely everything to try not get involved in any kind of discussions.”
The club have announced a farewell question and answer evening with Klopp at the MS Bank Arena in Liverpool for fans to say their goodbyes.
“I had a lot of evenings with Jurgen Klopp. I’ve no clue what happens that night,” he said.
“I assume it will probably be good. No pressure on the people organising it but it would be nice if it could be a little bit funny. John Bishop is there right? Then there’s a good chance it will be funny.”
On the other side of Stanley Park, Everton have withdrawn their
appeal against a two- point reduction for breaching spending rules after comfortably cementing their top- flight status.
The Toffees announced on Friday afternoon that they had decided not to go ahead with a scheduled hearing to contest the punishment handed down by an independent regulatory commission last month, after they had admitted a second breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules ( PSR).
Deduction
A statement on the club’s official X – formerly Twitter – account said: “Everton Football Club has withdrawn its appeal of the decision by a Premier League independent commission to impose a two- point deduction on the club for a breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules for the period ending in June 2023.
“A hearing scheduled for later this month will now not proceed and the club will conclude the 2023- 24 Premier League season with the two- point deduction remaining in place.”
The fresh punishment was imposed after the club failed to comply with PSR during the three- year cycle to 2022- 23, and came after they had already been deducted six points for similar reasons for the period to 2021- 22.
It left them sitting in 16th place, just two points clear of the relegation zone and in danger of dropping into the second tier.
However, Sean Dyche’s team will head into their penultimate fixture, Saturday’s clash with relegated Sheffield United, in 15th on 37 points, 11 clear of the bottom three and with their survival assured.