Darwin Nunez wonder strike sends Liverpool into Carabao Cup last eight
NUNEZ! NUNEZ!: Liverpool's Darwin Nunez celebrates after scoring his side's winner. Photo credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.
Liverpool issued another warning to their rivals that they are once again ready to challenge for silverware with a victory over fellow Premier League side AFC Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup thanks to substitute Darwin Nunez’s wonder strike.
It speaks to the job Jurgen Klopp has done rebuilding his squad after several significant exits over the past two seasons that he can make eight changes from Sunday’s 3-0 hammering of Nottingham Forest at Anfield and still come away with a deserved victory.
Mo Salah is the only one remaining of that formidable front three with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane which won the Premier League title, but the depth Klopp possesses in those attacking areas is perhaps greater than he had back then.
And Klopp had one of his newer additions to the squad to thank for taking the lead. Cody Gakpo, who joined the club in January this year, has been part of a rotating forward line so far this season with many of his minutes coming off the bench, but showed fantastic alertness to prod in from close range after Andrei Radu had kept out Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike from distance.
Bournemouth did not make it easy for the Reds, however. Andoni Iraola’s side created plenty of opportunities but lacked the finishing touch, that was before the lively Justin Kluivert headed in while completely unmarked at the back post from Alex Scott’s corner to put his side level on 64 minutes.
It came after a good spell of pressure from the home side which had seen Ireland’s Caoimhin Kelleher tip over from substitute James Tavernier moments earlier.
The talent Liverpool possess right throughout their squad was demonstrated further by Klopp’s substitutions – bringing on the triplet of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister just after the hour mark.
Those changes looked to have backfired immediately when Kluivert had headed his side level but Klopp was soon able to reap the rewards of his decision when the ÂŁ85m man Nunez was sent racing away down the left-hand side by another of the substitutes Alexander-Arnold, before cutting in and unleashing a beautiful strike beyond Radu and into the top-right corner which was well worthy of the transfer fee paid for him.
Liverpool will no doubt have much easier nights than this one. The blustery and rainy seaside conditions made for a difficult game of football for both sides with players having to pay more attention than usual as to the flight of the ball, and Bournemouth certainly did not look like a side who have won only won one Premier League game this season.
But having endured a rare season without silverware during 2022/23, not including the Community Shield, exiting both domestic cup competitions at the fourth-round stage and failing to get past the round of 16 in the Champions League, this victory will breed further confidence into a squad which has the strength in depth to once again bring a trophy back to Anfield.
Radu 6, Smith 6 (Aarons 81’), Mepham 6, Zabarnyi 6, Kerkez 6, Scott 7 (Moore 81’), Billing 6 (Tavernier 61’), Semenyo 6 (Brooks 74’), Christie 6, Kluivert 7 (Traore 74’), Solanke 6.
Kelleher 7, Gomez 7, Matip 7, Quansah 7, Tsimikas 7, Endo 6 (Alexander-Arnold 60’), Jones 6 (Mac Allister 60’), Elliott 7 (Nunez 60’), Szoboszlai 7 (Gravenberch 76’), Salah 6, Gakpo 7 (Jota 81’).
John Brooks 7.
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