Jurgen Klopp vetoed Liverpool recruitment team suggestion to sign Darwin Nunez

Jurgen Klopp reportedly intervened to prioritize signing Darwin Nunez over a Chelsea star, despite objections from Liverpool’s recruitment team.

The decision came to light after Liverpool’s disastrous 2-0 defeat to local rivals Everton on Wednesday night. Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin condemned Liverpool to a nightmarish setback, dealing a severe blow to their Premier League title aspirations.

Following the match, Liverpool striker Nunez faced heavy criticism for squandering a crucial opportunity to equalize in the first half. After being set up by Mohamed Salah inside the penalty area, the Uruguayan blasted his shot directly at Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, despite having a clear sight of goal.

In the second half, as Liverpool pushed for a comeback, Nunez struggled to make an impact against Everton’s resilient defense. According to journalist Bence Bocsak, Nunez failed to win a single duel against Everton, with him and Salah losing all seven combined duels they contested.

As the final whistle blew, the 24-year-old drew ire from fans for sarcastically clapping at the referee. Nunez, who joined the club from Benfica in the summer of 2022 for a reported fee of £85 million, faced sharp criticism for his lackluster performance in the crucial derby match.

Despite high expectations, Nunez has largely disappointed, often missing significant goal-scoring opportunities. Reports suggest that Liverpool boss Klopp pushed for Nunez’s signing, disregarding the preferences of the club’s recruitment team.

According to The Times’ Paul Joyce, Nunez was primarily a Klopp signing, with the recruitment team favoring Christopher Nkunku, who joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig last summer.

With the opportunity to bounce back, Liverpool will resume Premier League action on Saturday against West Ham United. However, Klopp’s side must remain vigilant, as Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on them in the league standings.