Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Wednesday, October 5.
Darwin Nunez critics should not ignore his Liverpool truth
The naysayers will no doubt take one look at the scoresheet and knowingly note another blank for Darwin Nunez, writes Ian Doyle.
But there’s good reason the Liverpool striker was given a rousing reception by the Anfield crowd when his number came up on the fourth official’s electronic board with 10 minutes remaining.
The 23-year-old was missing only a goal after an impressive all-round performance that provided encouraging evidence of why Jurgen Klopp has placed such faith in building a new-look attack around the player.
After his promising start was cut short by self-inflicted absence following his needless red card against Crystal Palace six weeks ago - robbing him of much-needed adaptation time on the pitch - Nunez has struggled to impose himself as Liverpool opened the campaign in largely underwhelming fashion. The knives were soon out. It was convenient, though, for the critics to overlook the lack of minutes that meant this Champions League clash against Rangers was only his third start since arriving from Benfica in the summer.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst might have just predicted Liverpool's future
Of all the words spoken by those associated with Liverpool in recent days, it was 10 that were uttered by Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst that best summed it up, writes Paul Gorst.
"Form is temporary and it can change in one game," said the Dutch coach inside the bowels of Anfield's media room on Monday evening when the conversation turned to his hosts’ current predicament.
And while few will genuinely believe this 2-0 victory over a modest Rangers in the Champions League marks the real return of normal service for Jurgen Klopp's team, it is at least a hop in the right direction ahead of a couple of weeks - and fixtures with Arsenal and Manchester City - that have the potential to transform this season.
Whereas Liverpool were unable to build on their 2-1 win against Ajax in the previous European game here due to the postponement of their Chelsea visit and the subsequent international break, this latest Group A triumph can be the catalyst that sees momentum, rhythm, consistency and stability all eventually find their way back to the Reds. They are four qualities that have been sorely missing of late. This was much more like it at least.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
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