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.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Our House, Louise Candlish,
Simon & Schuster
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
Elvis
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
