has singled out Benfica frontman Darwin Nunez – who is wanted by both and – for praise and says Liverpool will need to find a way to stop the Uruguayan from influencing Tuesday’s game.
The Merseysiders fly to Lisbon later today ahead of their clash with the Portuguese giants, with Nunez – who is the top scorer in the Primeira Liga with 21 goals in 19 starts – the stand-out threat for the hosts.
His form has alerted the likes of United, Arsenal and even Barcelona, with a €60million (£50.3m) summer move expected, and Klopp has been very impressed with the in-demand 22-year-old forward.
Asked how crucial it will be to stop Nunez in the first leg of the quarter-final clash, Klopp said: ‘He’s not the only one. They have a really good team, I have to say! A really good team with a good way of playing.
‘But yes, he is [their danger man], he’s a good striker. The next one from Uruguay! I don’t know how they’re going to play together: Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez and him in one team.
‘That’s probably a challenge as well, to put that in place.
‘But he’s a top boy. And yes the goals he scored, obviously the one against Ajax in Amsterdam that was a massive one, big one. Yes in the group stages [against Barcelona] as well.
‘So he’s not shy. He did not start the last game, he came on at half-time because of coming back from international duties.
‘So we expect him to start tomorrow and we have to make sure he will not get a lot of balls.
‘But there are other players, Rafa is “wow” with the ball – really quick! And the others, I know Julian Weigl obviously, Joao Mario we all know.
‘There’s a lot of quality in this team and experience as well with Jan Vertonghen and Nicolas Otamendi.
‘It’s an interesting team, but it’s the quarter-finals of the Champions League! Who cares? That’s how it should be! And I’m really happy and really looking forward to it.’
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