Klopp Mocks Early Season Critics Of Nunez And Haaland

The pair were big money arrivals to the Premier League over the summer, with Nunez making the switch from Benfica to Liverpool while Haaland chose Manchester City after deciding to seek a new challenge away from Borussia Dortmund.

Petty struggles in pre-season saw rival fans poke fun at Nunez after missing big chances against Manchester United but he responded with four goals against RB Leipzig while he scored against Manchester City in the Community Shield and in Liverpool's Premier League opener against Fulham.

Haaland suffered similar vilification for missing an open goal against Liverpool in the Community Shield but he showed Premier League defenders of what they will be coming up against on his top flight debut with two goals against West Ham United and even though he did not get on the scoresheet over the weekend, he provided an assist as Man City battered Bournemouth 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

Klopp is surprised people expressed doubts over the pair's abilities and is glad they have started shutting a few critics up.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Monday's clash with Crystal Palace, Klopp said: "Five weeks ago, when we started pre-season and [Nunez] had his first game and it didn't look great from the outside world.

"Not for us, but it's crazy how quick we judge people… wow!

"Imagine if somebody did that to us and said, 'First day of work, it didn't work out. Go home, we never want to see you again! And you don't get a second chance by the way' – we would have all been long gone! No chance.

"Everybody can now see, 'Ah he's a proper striker' – so good for us and good for him.

"He's a handful and is a different type to what we had. He's very lively and very energetic. Physically he's really strong and technically he's really good, that obviously goes together with being more settled and confident and more secure in yourself in a new environment.

"You can't say, 'Come on, you have to give me 100 per cent immediately' – you have to develop it and that's what we're doing at the moment and in a good way.

"It's funny as well, we won against Manchester City the week before the season and everybody was asking, 'Will Haaland score this and that?'

"A week is like 10 years in football!"