Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has tipped striker Darwin Nunez to use this season's Europa League campaign as a platform to realise his potential at the club.
The Uruguayan striker is expected to start when the Reds host Ligue 1 side Toulouse at Anfield in Group E on Thursday, having begun last Saturday's 2-0 Merseyside derby victory over Everton on the bench.
Nunez came on late in the game at the weekend to create Mohamed Salah's second goal and continue what has been an encouraging start to his second season at Anfield
"Darwin is in a really good moment, took some time to adapt to everything but everyone is very happy with him," said Klopp of the 24-year-old, who endured a difficult first season at Anfield after a €100 million move from Benfica.
"We made a decision who of two could start [against] Everton, [Luis] Diaz or Darwin. Lucho's [Diaz] job was to create. Darwin came on and killed the game, that was the idea, it worked."
Klopp admitted he will make changes tonight but stressed that they won't be taking Toulouse lightly.
Les Violets won the Coupe de France for the first time in their history last season and have a win and a draw from their two Europa League group games so far. They sit two points behind Klopp's side, who have two wins from two.
Asked if he would make wholesale changes with one eye on Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest, Klopp said: "I haven't thought about Sunday, yet.
"Toulouse deserves all of our respect. They won the French Cup, a massive thing. This year, a young, talented team. They have a clear idea but we have to see how they show up here.
"It's not that I think we can lose this game, we want to win and that's the next thing, we have to bring nine points. We have to play our best, make a few changes, not too many, we will see. The boys showed so far they are really ready for the competition.
"They [Toulouse] got a point against PSG [in Ligue 1], which is obviously a massive one. We have to make sure we are ready for it. But then it's about us, that we really create an atmosphere with the way we play."
Kostas Tsimikas is expected to continue at left-back with first choice Andrew Robertson likely to be out for three months following surgery on a shoulder injury.
"Robbo had surgery and all went well, as good as it could be," added Klopp. "Rehab starts as soon as he wakes up, I think [surgery] happened this morning."
One player who could feature for Liverpool having recovered from injury is Netherlands international Cody Gakpo, who is fit again after a knee problem.
"Cody is in full training now since Sunday. He is available for the squad," confirmed the Liverpool boss.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
SHALASH%20THE%20IRAQI
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WTL%20SCHEDULE
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Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
SPECS
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Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
SPECS
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PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)