Darwin Nunez’ shy three-word response after appearing to steal Mohamed Salah’s goal against RB Leipzig… and why captain Virgil van Dijk didn’t agree with him
- The Uruguayan star scored the only goal in Liverpool’s valuable 1-0 win
- Darwin Nunez tried to give credit to another Reds teammate after scoring
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Darwin Nunez appeared to try to shift the honors to another Liverpool star after scoring the winning goal in Wednesday’s Champions League victory against RB Leipzig.
Arne Slot’s dream start as Reds boss continued in Germany, with Nunez’s 27th minute strike securing a valuable away win that all but assured the club of qualification to the knockout stages of the competition.
Nunez was given just his fourth start of the season after Slot handed him the lead and was soon celebrating in Leipzig as he fired home his second goal of the campaign.
The Uruguayan scored with a simple finish to cross Mohamed Salah’s cross over to continue Liverpool’s 100 per cent winning start to the Champions League and cut a timid figure as he was mobbed by celebrating teammates.
Salah’s effort looked destined for the back of the net even before Nunez’s intervention and the Reds striker tried to tell captain Virgil van Dijk that it was the winger who deserved the real credit.
Darwin Nunez scored the only goal of the match as Liverpool secured a 1-0 win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday
Nunez tapped in at the back post, even though Mohamed Salah’s effort (in the background) was already about to hit the back of the net
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk (right) told Nunez ‘we need more’ after opening the scoring in Germany
The cameras humbly accepted Van Dijk’s congratulations and filmed Nunez appearing to humbly say to the defender as he pointed to Salah: “No, it’s Mo.”
However, the steely Van Dijk wasn’t too keen on the suggestion and punched Nunez on the chest as he appeared to reply: ‘We need more.’
Meanwhile, Salah appeared unbothered by the intervention and appeared delighted as the Reds took the lead in a crucial clash that took them to nine points in the Champions League.
Nunez will hope his goal and all-round performance puts him in the frame for a possible weekend start when Liverpool travel to Arsenal to maintain their place as Premier League leaders.
Later, Reds boss Slot wanted Nunez to take credit for his goal against Leipzig after the match and admitted he was happy to see the struggling striker score.
“I’m always happy when we score a goal, but I don’t really care who scores the goal,” he said.
“It’s always good to see all our players score goals, and I think in the build-up to the goal, Cody [Gakpo] and Mo [Salah] were as important in the goal as Darwin.
‘What I liked about Darwin was that he was also strong, comfortable on the ball, held the ball a lot and fought when he had to defend, making it a very difficult match for Leipzig’s two centre-backs.
‘And when he scores, I think it’s always nice for a striker to be on the scoresheet.’