Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Darwin Nunez is a doubt for Liverpool’s crucial clash at Arsenal with a foot problem.
Nunez suffered a foot injury during Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday evening and underwent an x-ray. The results have shown no break for the Uruguayan, though Klopp confirmed the forward’s foot is swollen.
The 24-year-old’s absence would be a major blow for the Reds, who take on their title rivals at the Emirates on Sunday.
“I don’t know if Darwin is available. After 20 minutes someone stood on his foot. It was very painful after the game,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.
“He only took his [football] boot off after the game because he knew it was something. He left the stadium in a boot, and it was not a football boot. So nothing broken, x-ray clear. But swollen. We have to see if his foot can get back in a boot, or not! Because that takes time. I’ve not seen him yet so we’ll see. Going into a game with this pain it show so much more.”
Nunez was at the centre of Liverpool’s emphatic win over Chelsea in midweek, though failed to get on the scoresheet despite a host of chances. He missed a penalty and hit the woodwork on a Premier League record four occasions.
Nunez has hit the woodwork more times than any other player this season, while no player in the Premier League has missed more big chances.
Asked whether Nunez’s missed chances impact him, Klopp said: “It does impact him, of course. he’s a human being. If it didn’t affect him that would be strange. But he knows he’ll another chance. The penalty miss, that hit him definitely.
“I don’t judge Darwin because of the crossbar moments, I judge him for the assist for Lucho [Luis Diaz] because that was late in the game and super decisive for us. That was outstanding football wise, not being bothered by your own bad luck. He stayed in the game and I am more than happy with him. A record of hitting the crossbar, I get it is interesting, but I that’s as close as you can get and Darwin will score.”
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