Jurgen Klopp defended striker Darwin Nunez following a forgettable performance by the new signing in Liverpool’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Salzburg on Wednesday night.
The 23-year-old only played the first half in Austria before being replaced by Roberto Firmino at halftime, with the Reds dominating the second half without scoring an equaliser.
Nunez struggled to impress in the first half, but Klopp said that was more due to the lack of ammunition he was getting from his team-mates.
The German said his new striker would have been very threatening in the second half, when Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold came in and gave better balls.
“We set up the guys and it’s all fine, they can do a lot better and they also had good moments,” said Klopp. “But most players have to get used to what we’re doing, especially in the first half.
“Darwin was alone far too often. Everyone fell, everyone was involved in the build-up but too wide and we could only pass the ball to Darwin in the penalty area.
“He had his moments and almost scored, but he needs a lot more support around him. You keep other players busy so they can’t focus on him. So many things.
‘Second half, imagine if Darwin had been in the coffin now, that would have helped too. It is what it is – it doesn’t feel great, but we’ll take it and get out of here.”
Klopp was not happy with some tough challenges from the home side, especially in the second half, although he insists it won’t keep him awake at night.
“It was certainly not a friendly match for Salzburg,” said the Reds boss. ‘Not so good for us.
“Salzburg had these kind of tough challenges, but they are doing very well; all due respect to Salzburg, they are doing a really good job. Sometimes I didn’t like the challenges that much, but it’s fine, I don’t think anything happened there.’
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