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Topics: Jurgen Klopp, Erling Haaland, Darwin Nunez, Liverpool
Alfie Culshaw
Topics: Jurgen Klopp, Erling Haaland, Darwin Nunez, Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has reacted to comparisons between Man City's Erling Haaland and Liverpool's Darwin Nunez by laughing them off.
The Premier League’s top two finished the 2021/22 season with 92 and 93 points respectively and responded to this by acquiring marquee strikers in the transfer window.
Nunez arrived at Anfield from Benfica for £85 million earlier this summer, after netting 34 times in 41 appearances last term for the Portuguese giants.
Haaland joined Pep's side from Borussia Dortmund for £51.2 million, having scored 29 goals in 30 games for the German outfit in 2021/22.
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With both arriving in the Premier League for big money, for big sides and both operating as a number nine, it was inevitable that comparisons were going to be made.
However, Klopp has dismissed these comparisons and has refused to take them seriously.
“One is left-footed, the other is right-footed,” the German told Viaplay Fotball, before breaking out in laughter.
“One is from Norway, the other one is from Uruguay, they are big differences!
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“I’m not sure if the temper builds that up, I think Erling could be from South America as well.
“Darwin could not be from Norway. Norwegian strikers tend to be slightly crazy, how you know best,” he directed at interviewer and former Norway striker Jan Aage Fjortoft.
The Liverpool boss did eventually get closer to the answer to the question comparing the two, claiming Haaland is “an absolutely great player” that he “loves.”
The pair of forwards will face off later this week as City take on Liverpool in the season’s Community Shield curtain raiser at the King Power Stadium. It will be the first look at Nunez and Haaland in their new sides in a semi-competitive fixture.
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Liverpool then kick their Premier League campaign off the following week with a trip to Fulham, while City visit West Ham.