Klopp primes Núñez for battle with ‘best striker in the world’ Haaland

The comparison seems unfair now, and would be for any player in world football, but it is only three months since Erling Haaland v Darwin Núñez was billed as the duel that could shape another title race between Manchester City and Liverpool. A simplistic prediction, true, although with one team flying and the other yet to take off, in keeping with the impact of their big-money summer signings, it is not entirely wide of the mark.

To pin Liverpool’s inconsistent campaign on Núñez would be also unfair, and inaccurate, even accounting for the red card for violent conduct on the striker’s Anfield debut that stalled his integration for three matches. The Uruguay international has four goals in 10 appearances for Liverpool; by no means a shabby return for a forward in a new club, league and country where he does not understand the language. Jürgen Klopp’s instructions are relayed via Portuguese-speaking members of the coaching staff, because of his time at Benfica: the assistant manager Pep Lijnders and elite development coach Vitor Matos. They are sinking in gradually.

The 23-year-old scored for the second successive game in Liverpool’s 7-1 humiliation of Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday, when Roberto Firmino maintained his impressive form and Mohamed Salah rediscovered his in front of goal. Confidence, one of the issues that Klopp has faced this season, should not be a concern among Liverpool’s strikers when City visit on Sunday. Núñez’s movement, work rate and link-up play have impressed in recent games. The £64m signing – whose fee could rise to a club record £85m – scored on his Liverpool debut when they beat City 3-1 in the Community Shield in July. Having since been eclipsed by the phenomenon that is Haaland