Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed that his new striker Darwin Nunez will not become engaged in a goal scoring competition with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
The transfers of both Nunez and Haaland sent shockwaves throughout the Premier League community early in the window.
Whether it was the gravity of Erling Haaland coming to English football, or the £85 million fee which Liverpool paid Benfica for their young Uruguayan attacker, groundbreaking deals were achieved.
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With both newcomers occupying similar roles for their respective clubs, a competitiveness between the two was sure to be born, with first glimpses coming in the FA Community Shield.
During the match, Erling Haaland - who started the game for Manchester City - struggled to produce anything more than two shots.
That was is in stark comparison to Darwin Nunez on the day, who came on from the bench in the 59th minute, scoring in extra time after spending the second-half pestering the Cityzens’ defenders.
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Nevertheless, both players came storming out in their debuts, with the Uruguayan international scoring a goal while assisting another for Mo Salah against Fulham, which would later be bested by Erling Haaland as he grabbed a brace against West Ham to open his account for the season.
Ahead of Liverpool's Monday night match against Crystal Palace, Jurgen Klopp stated that his new signing would not be at all focussed on a goal scoring competition with Erling Haaland.
It is not regarding a lack of competitiveness from Nunez however, rather regarding the German's lack of knowledge on the player and how he sits within the Merseyside club’s squad to date.
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'I don't know Darwin (Nunez) well enough yet,” said Klopp.
“At the moment, he just has to score for us and assist for us.”
From Jurgen Klopp’s perspective, the same cannot be said regarding Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland, as he feels the two sides were destined to work out for each other.
“It was always clear that (Erling) Haaland and Manchester City was going to work out.”
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"They are a chance producing side and he is a finisher,” said Klopp.
Although the Reds’ head coach does not want there to be a competition from the start, he is not completely close minded to the idea should it come later in the season and as a way of motivating Nunez.
“If there is a situation at the end of the season about goalscoring or whatever — maybe it could be something (to motivate him)," explained Klopp.
Topics: Erling Haaland, Darwin Nunez, Manchester City, Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Premier League, Football
Declan Harris