Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool’s 1-0 win over West Ham and hints at the next step in the club’s tactical evolution.
Jurgen Klopp has revealed Liverpool is working towards pairing Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez up front as the Reds’ attack continues to evolve.
Nunez scored his fifth goal since his summer arrival from Benfica – and a first for the Reds at Anfield – to earn Klopp’s side a narrow 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham United on Wednesday.
The Uruguayan had been benched three days earlier for the win over Manchester City when Salah instead played in the central striking position and scored the only goal.
Liverpool has recently stepped away from their usual 4-3-3 approach with a formation that has seen the main center-forward supported by another player in a slightly deeper role.
And Klopp has hinted there is a possibility both Salah and Nunez could be paired up top in the future when asked how the new formation has affected the Egyptian’s role when playing on the right, as against the Hammers.
“Not at all,” said the Reds boss. “It’s just that we all have to defend, and Mo has to defend then slightly differently than he did in the past or in the center.
“There’s a chance we play with Darwin and Mo in the center – that would be a high-speed combination! – but we need to get there somehow. We are still developing this kind of system and we have to figure out how it is best for the specific game.
“Mo can play 10 positions and he was constantly in the center (despite starting on the right) and finishing situations off. He was unlucky here and there, but it’s no difference offensively – defensively it’s slightly different (for him).”
Alisson Becker saved a penalty from Jarrod Bowen to preserve Liverpool’s victory, which has moved them four points off the Champions League qualification places.
And speaking to Viaplay, Klopp also praised both the goalkeeper and veteran substitute James Milner, particularly with the pair combining to prevent Tomas Soucek from netting a late equalizer.
“When Ali makes a spectacular save we always know we could have defended better, but another goalkeeper might not have made that save,” said the Liverpool manager. “We really appreciate him.
“Millie had a spectacular game when he came on, to be honest. Offensively and defensively putting a big toe on the ball like this was absolutely massive.
“Of course, it was a little tense at the end.” It should not have happened. It was unnecessary because we played an outstanding first half against a very strong opponent. The issue was that we did not continue in this manner; we must review the game to understand.
“If we had been 2-0 or 3-0 up in the first half, no one would have complained, but with the penalty in the last minute, it felt like we were a little bit lucky to be 1-0 up.” And we couldn’t get that feeling out of our heads. That is something we need to work on.”
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