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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
David Maddock

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp explains why "exceptional" Darwin Nunez was subbed off

Jurgen Klopp hailed a massive win, as Darwin Nunez gave Liverpool their second 1-0 win at Anfield in three days.

The £85m striker scored his first ever Anfield goal, to sink West Ham give Klopp’s side an important victory on the back of their magnificent weekend display against Manchester City, and take them to within four points of the top four.

And the Anfield boss insisted that grinding out three points once more in another intense, tight game is huge in the context of their stuttering season: “Absolutely, it was really important we brought it over the line in a tight game, that it didn’t happen too often this season,” he said.

“That we have space for improvement is clear and tonight that was the case, but we have three points more and (after the weekend win) that is massive.”

Klopp singled out Nunez, who has struggled to adapt to English football this season, but also keeper Alisson, who produced the massive penalty save, and another important one at the death…with help from sub James Milner.

And the manager added: “So it was important we brought it over the line - we needed Ali and we needed Milly’s big toe, but we played well enough to deserve the three points. Darwin was exceptional, he scored a very good goal, hit a post and produced some fine saves from Fabianski, so he showed he has arrived at 100 per cent.

“He felt a bit of the muscle in the first half, so we took him off early, but I think we caught it at the right problem, so no, I don’t think it is a problem.”

Darwin Nunez scored the only goal as Liverpool beat West Ham 1-0 at Anfield (AFP via Getty Images)

For West Ham boss David Moyes, it was his 19th occasion in bringing a team to Anfield as a manager, the 19th time he has failed to win here.

But he said: “If we perform like that regularly then we will pick up a lot of points. I’m just disappointed we didn’t take the opportunities we had at the end, because we had the chances to get something.

“I think our finishing has been a little bit off, but we showed that we can compete against one of the top sides in Europe, a team that has been in Champions League finals, and got 96, 98 points in the Premier League. We have been the best of the rest, and we are getting closer to chasing them down.”

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