Nunez enjoys scoring at Anfield (Picture: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Darwin Nunez’s first goal at Anfield lifted Liverpool up to seventh in the Premier League after victory over West Ham.
The Uruguay striker, back in the starting line-up after Diogo Jota suffered a calf injury against Manchester City, netted after 22 minutes but the hosts were grateful to Alisson’s first-half penalty save from Jarrod Bowen to secure three points.
Nunez, despite a debut goal in the Community Shield win over City, has been slow to adapt to life in the English top flight since his £64million transfer from Benfica.
But he was a livewire last night – albeit for 57 minutes until his substitution – and after breaking the deadlock by heading in Kostas Tsimikas’ cross, he almost grabbed a second with a fierce strike that hit the post.
West Ham had barely touched the ball in Liverpool’s penalty area in 42 minutes until they were gifted the chance of an equaliser.
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Joe Gomez’s inadvisable high challenge on Bowen initially went unpunished by referee Stuart Atwell but VAR advised him to consult the pitchside monitor and he duly awarded the spot-kick.
All eyes were on Reds boss Jurgen Klopp after his angry outburst against the match officials and subsequent red card and FA charge after last weekend’s win over Pep Guardiola’s City. But the German kept his cool this time and was relieved to see Alisson dive to his right to parry Bowen’s effort.
Liverpool went close to sealing victory on 78 minutes when Jordan Henderson’s cross saw Kurt Zouma’s stick out a leg with the ball bouncing down and up against his own crossbar.
But the hosts were again grateful to Alisson late on when the Brazil keeper made a close-range save to deny Tomas Soucek.
MORE : Jurgen Klopp hails Darwin Nunez but calls on Liverpool striker to keep developing
MORE : Fred fires Reds ahead as United dent Spurs’ hopes
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Heavenly stuff for beleaguered Klopp.
