Jurgen Klopp claims Darwin Nunez would have scored 20 goals if Liverpool had been at their best

Jürgen Klopp has claimed that striker Darwin Nunez would have ‘definitely’ scored 20 goals this season if Liverpool had been their normal selves.

The jury is still out on £85 million Nunez, who scored just once in 11 appearances and scorned opportunities, although he has also scored against Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle, Napoli and Real Madrid this season.

Klopp expects more from the 23-year-old Uruguayan next season, but said: “He needed time to settle down. The hardest thing for a striker is to get into a team that doesn’t click.

“If he did score 15 goals, imagine that by our standards he would have had a good season with 70 or 80 points, 20 goals at least.

‘Mo Salah in his best season — 40 goals — missed opportunities. That is normal. Erling Haaland missed opportunities. That’s how it is, but they had a lot more than we made in this period. But 15 goals is still fine and three games to go, so possibly increase that number as well.

Nunez has been guilty of wasteful behavior in front of goal, scoring just nine Premier League goals

‘We talked about it. He needs time to adjust. He also had that at Benfica, but there was no language problem there, or less of a language problem than here.

“Obviously we will try to help him and he can help us even more than he already has.”

Fifth-placed Liverpool, who play against Leicester tomorrow, are 20 points behind leaders Manchester City, but Klopp does not want to be obsessed with Pep Guardiola’s side next season.

“It’s not about that, there are two games a season, or maybe with cup competitions three four five games where you play against Man City or Arsenal,” he said.

‘A successful season is that you are ready for all the games you can win twenty, maybe 25 games.

“If City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and Man Utd are all involved in those 25 then it’s even better.

“But can we put together a team that can win the most games? Yes we can. It’s not about what the others do, it never was.’ Liverpool and Manchester City have dominated the Premier League landscape in recent seasons and are the only two clubs to have won the title since 2017. Indeed, the rivalry was so great that City won Liverpool by a single point over the title on two occasions, with both clubs 90-odd points in the process.

The arrival of Arsenal, and to a lesser extent Newcastle United and Manchester United, has hinted at an end to two-team dominance.

The German added: “So getting 90 points is absolutely insane, it’s pretty special and no one should take this kind of thing for granted and I think the top five, six, seven will get even closer.

Klopp admitted Nunez needed time to adapt and he is confident the Uruguayan will be fine

It’s been a tough year on the field for the Reds, but they finish the season in fine form

“It will be harder and more competitive, which it already is this year.

“It doesn’t make it any easier but it gives anyone with a good idea a chance to be a part of it and that’s all you’re going for because if you’re part of that battle up there then you can winning, that’s how it is.’

It is no coincidence that Liverpool’s recent revival has seen top scorer Salah return to form with eight goals in his last eight games, something Nunez would love to emulate.

Liverpool initially earned £64 million for the striker and the fee could reach £85 million with add-ons.