Featured Image Credit: X/@ThePaulMachin
Topics: Liverpool, Darwin Nunez, Europa League, Ryan Gravenberch, Jurgen Klopp
Josh Lawless
Topics: Liverpool, Darwin Nunez, Europa League, Ryan Gravenberch, Jurgen Klopp
The reaction of Liverpool players to Darwin Nunez's inexplicable open goal miss can be seen in fan footage shared online.
Liverpool made it three wins out of three in the Europa League with a 5-1 thrashing of French side Toulouse at Anfield.
Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo, Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch and Mo Salah were all on target in the rout.
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Toulouse were level for a period when Thijs Dallinga bagged a 16th minute equaliser but Liverpool turned it on for a high-scoring victory.
But the game's biggest talking point was in the 65th minute when Nunez was involved in the most chaotic passage of play.
The Uruguayan produced an exquisite piece of skill to beat the last defender and then rounded the goalkeeper.
But just when it looked like he was going to double his tally for the game, Nunez fluffed his lines with the goal open as he hit the post.
However, the ball cannoned back into play and straight into the path of Gravenberch, who maintained his composure to slot home.
Nunez was still sunken to his knees when Gravenberch picked up the ball but then fan footage filmed by Paul Machin from The Redmen TV showed how his teammates reacted.
Trent Alexander-Arnold demonstrated leadership qualities and was straight over to Nunez with an arm around him.
There were plenty of laughs from the likes of Curtis Jones and Gravenberch, as well as Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai when he was substituted immediately after.
But it summed up the special team spirit and bond the Reds have.
Despite the shocker of a miss, Jurgen Klopp had nothing but praise for Nunez for his performance on Thursday night.
“He played incredible. Honestly, in this moment, I don’t think I could care less that he hits the post," Klopp said afterwards.
"Everything before was super-convincing, was absolutely clear, how he took the defender away, how he passed the goalie, it was a perfect situation.
“He played really good, the goal he scored, the situations he was involved, dropping into midfield, staying on the ball, all these kinds of things. There were a lot of good things.”