Darwin Nunez told Liverpool fans he would “never throw in the towel” after his late brace secured a vital 2-0 win over Brentford.
After Diogo Jota scored from the bench scored a point at Nottingham Forest in midweek, it was the critical Nunez who gave Liverpool manager Arne Slott the spark he was looking for in west London.
Liverpool bombarded Brentford’s goal in a pulsating game and had a total of 37 shots on the road – the hosts had 11 of their own with six on target – but had to wait for compensation for Nunez to break the deadlockclearing Trent Alexander-Arnold’s centre.
As Brentford pushed for an equaliser, Nunez took advantage to score the second goal – assisting Harvey Elliott in the process – and his heroics sparked scenes of unbridled jubilation not only from the visitors but also among Liverpool’s coaching staff.
Slot given up in game preparation that Liverpool have failed to get the best out of Nunez this season – suggesting that the 25-year-old’s strengths have not been exploited – but he made clear his desire to improve after the game, while reinforcing his commitment to the red – ties with Saudi Arabia and Manchester United which has emerged in recent days.
“I think you have to stay mentally strong, never give up. Yes, there are moments that are very difficult for us players, for me it’s right now,” Nunez said. Sky Sports.
“But I never throw in the towel. I always keep working. In training, if I need to stay and practice more, I stay to improve. I think the work I do on the field will help the team defend as well.. I think I’ve always done that good, but I didn’t score goals and I know people are looking at that.”
“It’s true that I’m going through a difficult period and, as I’ve said before, I’m staying focused on my job and doing my best for Liverpool,” he continued. “I think it’s important to keep your head up and I always say I have to work because I have to improve. I stay strong with this mentality and with the support of my family and fans who are amazing.”
Liverpool’s win, along with Arsenal’s setback against Aston Villa in Saturday’s late game, he re-established the club’s six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, with the Reds also having an extra game to play after the postponement of the Merseyside derby in December.
READ THE LATEST LIVERPOOL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND GOSSIP
