‘It’s really important’: Jurgen Klopp has had words with Darwin Nunez after slow start at Liverpool

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Jurgen Klopp says he’s had words with Darwin Nunez after his disappointing start with Liverpool. The Uruguayan is yet to adapt.

Darwin Nunez arrived at Liverpool as their major summer signing but we’re yet to see him at his best. There have been flashes, of course. His debut against Manchester City in the Community Shield was thunderous.

Nunez came off the bench to score and win a penalty, swinging the game for Liverpool and winning the trophy. He then did similar on his Premier League debut, entering the fray at Fulham to score and assist in a 2-2 draw.

But then there was the red card against Crystal Palace. Or the blank against Everton. Games where Nunez just looked completely at odds with the rest of the Liverpool team.

It’s not what you want from your major signing, in other words. The pressure continues to grow on Nunez, too, as Liverpool struggle as a whole.

And that’s prompted Jurgen Klopp to have words with Nunez this week. He explained them in a press conference on Monday.

“Of course he is still adapting, how players always adapt,” said Klopp, per Liverpoolfc.com. “New players come in and everybody talks about them and wants them to shine immediately.

“That happens from time to time, and sometimes not. Only yesterday we had a long talk with Pep Lijnders – because my Spanish or Portuguese is still not better – and we just told him we are completely calm.

“It’s really important in our situation when he is now not starting, and he is not looking like he is worrying or whatever.”

Darwin Nunez and his disappointing Liverpool start

Those comparisons with Erling Haaland feel like a lifetime ago. While the Norwegian literally couldn’t have adapted faster, Nunez doesn’t make Liverpool’s best XI. There’s an argument that he’s currently third-choice as the centre-forward, behind Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.

But as Klopp says, that’s not necessarily anything to worry about. We’ve been through this before, after all. Both Andy Robertson and Fabinho barely played for the first few months after their respective arrivals. They took an age to adapt and Liverpool didn’t appear to trust them.

They’ve both since gone on to become club legends, however. We’re just got to trust Liverpool and Klopp, in other words. Once things click, Nunez could well be the player who transforms this season.