Jan Molby previews Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has opened up on Mohamed Salah’s blossoming partnership with Darwin Nunez as the Reds prepare for their toughest test of the season against Manchester City. The pair have been crucial to the Reds’ early season form, with Salah already hitting double figures with 10 goals in 12 games this season, and Klopp has lauded their ‘special’ collaboration up front.
Nunez has taken some time to adjust to life at Anfield since his £85million transfer from Benfica, but the Uruguayan looks primed to explode on the Premier League scene after an impressive recent run, contributing to six goals in his last eight appearances (three goals, three assists) despite not being a regular starter.
And his partnership with Salah appears to be strengthening with every game. The Uruguayan has combined with the Egyptian for 11 goals – seven more than he has with any other Liverpool player – with nine of his 10 assists being for Salah.
Klopp is obviously aware of the pair’s link-up on the pitch but insists they are not purely focusing on helping each other at the expense of their team-mates – pointing to how Salah vowed to help Nunez after his initial struggle to get acquainted with life in Liverpool.
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“You can’t become a Liverpool player if you’re not football-smart. Darwin and Mo look for each other but it’s not like they cut out the other boys. It’s just a different way of playing,” Klopp said in his press conference on Friday.
“Mo supports the boys. Darwin came here, big expectations, and Mo probably understood the situation best and saw his potential and wanted to help him. Without having the longest conversation, that was for sure the start of a pretty special partnership.”
Having the deadly duo fit and firing will be crucial if they are to beat City for only the third time since Klopp took over eight years ago, with their last win at the Etihad coming back in 2015 after a 4-1 success. Pep Guardiola wasn’t in charge back then, though, and his unbeaten record in the league against them underlines the stiff task Klopp and Liverpool have in toppling their rivals.
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“Saturday is a tough one, it’s the strongest team in the world for the last few years. Our record [at the Etihad] is not great you will tell me!” Klopp added. “They [Man City] are extremely strong, nothing I can say makes them weaker otherwise I would say it on repeat. Last year is just a memory.
“Is the rivalry the biggest? I don’t know but it’s the toughest game you can play for years. The fans will decide the rival but football wise we needed time to become a rival on the pitch. Big games.”
Nunez should be in contention to play after returning from international duty with Uruguay on Thursday, while Salah will be well-rested as Egypt did not play again since their 2-0 win over Sierra Leone on Sunday.
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