Darwin Nunez shoots Sparta Prague down as Liverpool set sights on Man City | EUROtoday

Having celebrated on the nook flag, Núñez turned to acknowledge his provider, who had earlier stroked Liverpool forward on 5 minutes after incomes a penalty.

Where Haaland has Kevin De Bruyne loading these bullets, Núñez is creating the identical relationship with Mac Allister, an intuitive understanding which implies solely a nod and a wink is required for the midfielder to weight the proper supply. They are the Smith and Wesson of Liverpool and Manchester.

In their technique conferences, Klopp and Guardiola know that stopping the producer is the most effective prevention of the tip product.

Núñez is bettering by the week. He has been Haaland’s appreciable shadow when it comes to the load of purpose numbers, however not within the vogue through which they arrive. Asked for the key of the previous few weeks’ enchancment, Klopp provided a pointed response.

“You mean months,” he mentioned. “Wonderful guy, wonderful boy. He has quality coming out of his ears to be honest. Is he at his absolute peak in general? Not now for us. But can he develop? Yes. Is he a threat all the time? Yes. When he’s not scoring he for us is incredibly important as he is a constant threat and gives us spaces in areas and options.”

Given the wild, end-to-end nature of the primary leg, it was in all probability inevitable a free spirit similar to Núñez would depart his mark. That assured the perfect construct to Sunday’s showdown.

“The priority is always the next game,” recommended Klopp beforehand. True, however when your last assembly with City as Liverpool supervisor is on the horizon – a fixture monumentally consequential to the title race – you will be forgiven for pondering forward.

Klopp’s administration screamed of ahead planning; Mohamed Salah returned for quarter-hour, Dominik Szoboszlai performed many of the second half and scored the fifth; Virgil van Dijk changed Ibrahima Konaté shortly after half-time, too, though in additional worrying circumstances.

Every recreation appears to deliver one other harm and this was no exception, Konaté pulling up within the construct as much as what in the end proved a late comfort when Conor Bradley sliced a cross previous Caoimhin Kelleher. Klopp later mentioned Konaté’s quick withdrawal was extra of a precaution, albeit additional checks will likely be wanted.

Despite the emphatic last rating, Liverpool had been weak within the first half, requiring three world-class Kelleher saves.