Jurgen Klopp has compared Darwin Nunez to Robert Lewandowski and is confident that the Liverpool forward will find his form around goal.
Nunez has scored nine goals in 12 starts across all competitions since his summer arrival from Benfica, but recent fixtures have seen the Uruguayan miss a succession of clear-cut chances.
After a wasteful performance in the Carabao Cup exit to Manchester City, Nunez was again guilty of squandering opportunities as Liverpool won at Aston Villa on Boxing Day. The 23-year-old missed four ‘big chances’ at Villa Park, the joint-most in a Premier League fixture this season.
Klopp, however, is convinced the goals will come and has compared Nunez to Robert Lewandowski. The German worked alongside Lewandowski – widely regarded as one of the best number nines of all time – at Borussia Dortmund and said it took time before the forward developed his ruthless streak.
“There are a lot of similarities to be honest,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference before Liverpool’s clash with Leicester.
“I think Lewy would tell the same story. We had shooting sessions where he didn’t finish off one. We had bets all the time for 10 euros – ‘if you score more than 10 times, I will pay you 10; if you don’t, you have to pay me’. My pocket was full of money!
“It’s all about staying calm. When you see the potential, stay calm.”
Klopp reiterated that there are no doubts within the Liverpool camp over Nunez’s performances so far and is confident it will soon come together for the summer signing.
“I think we all agree that the potential is so obvious,” he added.
“I think it’s clear when you see the second chance, the big chance in the second half [against Villa], he can run a little bit on an angle and then he has a free choice, all these kind of things.
“But it is all coming. You do it like this, the next time you do it like that. I had this situation with Lewy but it is not only Lewy. He is the obvious comparison, I understand.
“It’s just about staying calm and I am super calm. The team is calm as well, the team is completely convinced and that’s really cool.”
