Darwin Nunez was the difference-maker as Jurgen Klopp's side got back to winning ways in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Anfield has itself a new hero to worship, he wears a ponytail and he comes from Uruguay.
There may not be a lot that is predictable or orthodox about Darwin Nunez, but boy can he be effective. A player to excite, to get a crowd on its feet and a defence on its back foot.
A right old handful, as they say.
Nunez, belatedly, is starting to settle at Liverpool after his summer move from Benfica, and he took another big step forward on Tuesday night, emerging from the bench to score one goal and create another as Jurgen Klopp’s side finished the Champions League group stage with a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Napoli.
It wasn’t quite enough to secure top spot in Group A, but it was a much-needed result for Klopp after the misery of Saturday’s defeat here to Leeds United. European football, it seems, is their comfort blanket this season.
Liverpool left it late to secure this win, with Mohamed Salah striking five minutes from time to break the deadlock, before Nunez, whose header had led to the opener, tapped in a second with the last kick of the night.
The £64 million ($73m) man now has five goals in his last seven appearances, three in three in the Champions League, and the manner in which the Kop sang his name at the final whistle suggests he is already well on his way to becoming a firm favourite with his new club.
Here, he was the definition of an impact substitute.
GettyThe Winners
Darwin Nunez:
The Uruguayan may have had a wasteful evening here on Saturday, but he only needed 20-odd minutes to make his mark this time around.
Emerging from the bench to replace Curtis Jones, Nunez, as is his way, was straight into the thick of the action. There are no half-measures with the Uruguayan, whose endeavour, attitude and all-action style has already endeared him to the Anfield faithful.
He ensured a dull game would have a colourful finale. It was his header, spilled by Napoli keeper Alex Meret, which allowed Salah to force home the opener, five minutes from the end of the 90. Soon after, he looked to have set the Egyptian up for another in front of the Kop, only for Leo Ostigard to make a goal-saving intervention.
No worries, however. Nunez would have the last say, smashing home the easiest goal of his career after Meret had fumbled another header, this time from Virgil van Dijk.
The offside flag curtailed his initial celebrations, but after a lengthy VAR check the goal was given, his seventh in a red shirt.
'Nunez, Nunez, Nunez!' sang the Kop. They love him already. And the best is yet to come.
Ibrahima Konate:
It takes a lot to keep Napoli quiet, but Liverpool managed it, becoming the first side to beat the Serie A leaders this season, and only the second to stop Luciano Spalletti's brilliant side from scoring.
The Reds needed a close VAR call to preserve their clean sheet, with Ostigard's header, early in the second half, ruled out for offside. But more important was the performance of Konate alongside Van Dijk, with the Frenchman outstanding on only his second start of the campaign.
After a nervy start, Konate got himself on the front foot and had Anfield voicing its appreciation, stepping in to win the ball, using his pace and strength to cover off the counter-attack and at one point driving, Joel Matip style, into midfield to get his side moving.
Bad news for Joe Gomez, perhaps, who will struggle to gain his place back for Sunday's trip to Tottenham, but good news, most definitely, for Klopp, who saw his side look a whole lot more secure, and against top-class opposition too.
Youth:
The present may be rather troubling for Liverpool, given their domestic struggles, but we at least saw a glimpse of the future here, and it doesn't look bad at all.
The Reds finished with six players aged 23 or under on the field, four of whom are teenagers.
Nunez (23) grabbed the headlines and Konate (23) was probably the player of the match otherwise, but the fact that Calvin Ramsay (19) could finally make his senior debut was another bonus, while the sight of Stefan Bajcetic getting a few more minutes tells you just how much Klopp and his stiff think of the 17-year-old midfielder.
Bajcetic was alongside Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho, relative veterans at 19, by the end and, like Ramsay, did not look in any way fazed by the stage, the opposition or the opportunity.
With a Carabao Cup tie here against Derby to come next week, further opportunities should soon present themselves for these gifted young talents. Let's see if they can take them, and make Klopp's life a whole lot easier by doing so.
AdvertisementGettyThe Losers
Alex Meret:
This was not a night for Napoli's goalkeeper to look back on with any great fondness.
Two headers, two fumbles, two Liverpool goals, converted from pretty much on the goal-line.
Meret, in fairness, did what was asked of him for 85 minutes, but then he failed to hold Nunez's effort, allowing Salah to force the ball home for the opener. That's 41 European goals for Liverpool for the Egyptian, who moves level with Steven Gerrard at the top of that particular chart.
Then, Meret let another header, this time from Van Dijk, slip from his grasp. Nunez gobbled it up, substitute Piotr Zielinski played the Uruguayan onside and Liverpool had a second goal to celebrate, right on full time.
Who'd be a keeper, eh?
4-4-2:
"It was never off the table," said Jurgen Klopp as he discussed the return of his tried-and-trusted 4-3-3 system.
The Liverpool boss has been searching for answers recently, experimenting at various points with a 4-4-2 and a diamond in midfield, but here he went back to what he knew, and his side seemed to benefit.
It wasn't perfect – Fabinho's form is a major issue, and Klopp is still not seeing the best of Trent Alexander-Arnold – but Curtis Jones put in a good shift on the left of the front three, and with Roberto Firmino in his favoured False Nine role, Liverpool were less open and far more difficult to play against than in recent weeks.
The caveat, of course, is that Napoli didn't need to go hell for leather against them, and that the Reds did not create a great deal from open play, but beggars can't be choosers right now. Liverpool need results, momentum and confidence, and the three are inextricably linked.
We can expect, then, for 4-3-3 to make a return. "It's the system we played most often and which is familiar to us when we played well," Klopp added. We should most definitely be seeing it at Spurs.
GettyLiverpool Ratings: Defence
Alisson Becker (7/10):
Not a great deal to do, but showed good hands and concentration when called upon. One glorious kick created a chance for Nunez and Salah in stoppage time.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (6/10):
Had his hands full with the dangerous Kvaratskhelia, and didn't always come off best. Not as big a threat going forward as he can be.
Ibrahima Konate (8/10):
An impressive return to the starting XI for the Frenchman, whose physicality and ability to step into midfield was a big help against a lively, confident side.
Virgil van Dijk (7/10):
Won his battle with Osimhen and created Liverpool's second goal with a header.
Kostas Tsimikas (8/10):
His set-piece delivery led to both goals, and he had a good game besides that, full of energy and positivity. More touches than any other Liverpool player.
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Fabinho (6/10):
Tried to be more decisive and purposeful, and started well before struggling as the second half wore on. Still looks leggy.
James Milner (6/10):
Put himself about, snapping into challenges and popping up regularly in the final third. Suffered a head injury before succumbing early in the second half to a different issue.
Thiago Alcantara (7/10):
Stung Meret's palms in the first half. Most of Liverpool's good stuff came from him and he kept the ball better than anyone in red.