Jurgen Klopp has "no idea" how good Darwin Nunez could become but believes the Liverpool forward's output so far has been "incredible" considering the "knock" of his early suspension.
Nunez was Liverpool's big-money pre-season signing, arriving from Benfica for a fee that could reportedly reach £85million (€100m).
The 23-year-old enjoyed a flying start to life in England, scoring from the bench against both Manchester City and Fulham, but his first appearance in the starting XI was cut short by a red card against Crystal Palace that prompted a three-match ban.
As a result, Nunez has still only played 636 minutes for Liverpool in late October, although he has been in the thick of the action when he has been on the pitch.
The Uruguay forward has six goals and an assist, and he might have added more; he is averaging 6.4 shots per 90 in open play, almost double second-placed Liverpool star Mohamed Salah's 3.3.
Including chances created and contributions to build-up play, Nunez has been involved in 8.1 attacking sequences per 90 in open play – another leading mark among Liverpool players.
He has marginally underperformed his 6.4 expected goals, even if his expected goals on target value – calculated from the quality of the attempt rather than the quality of the chance – of 6.6 suggests his finishing has not largely been at fault.
Those numbers might easily be ignored in the face of some of the more eye-catching misses, as Nunez has converted only four of his 14 'big chances', from which Opta would expect a player to score.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's game against Leeds United, Klopp listed a range of factors that would suggest a tough first season for Nunez, meaning he is willing to forgive those occasional failings in front of goal.
"Darwin came here after a short break in the summer, arriving in Asia, doesn't speak a word [of English], and he's young, and Liverpool's a big club, and it's a big step for him, and he was expensive," Klopp said. "All these kinds of things.
"It's like everybody's looking at you – the whole place is dark and there's one light that's a spot on you. You have to deal with that, but we don't expect them to deal immediately. If you cause it, then you have to be prepared, but he did not."
After the red card, Klopp said: "He feels embarrassed for himself, definitely – that's how everybody would react.
"From not being 100 per cent confident, getting a knock like this is not cool. He can blame nobody else. Then he has to start new."
However, his manager added: "For all these things, his numbers are incredible, to be absolutely honest.
"You talk about the xG of Leeds, I'm pretty sure his xG is high as well. He had a few chances, which he missed, but he scored as well. He's involved in a lot of finishing moments.
"The steps he's made are really big, and that means automatically that he settles in more and more."
With Nunez so impactful even while passing up such opportunities, his potential with a little more work is "so exciting".
"Nobody knows [how good he can be]; he doesn't know," Klopp said. "That is so exciting.
"He has to stay fit and be available all the time, and he wasn't against Nottingham [Forest]. That's all important in the life of a professional football player.
"We have to work on all different areas. The potential is incredible. It's not only speed; the attitude is really good, he's a real worker.
"There are people out there who, technically, not sure, first touch... it's incredible. He does not bring it on the pitch in the moment all the time. His first touch might be here or there sometimes, but it's nothing to do with technique. It's just a bit too late, awareness, orientation, all these kinds of things.
"It's all possible to develop and learn, and that's where we are at. It's really exciting. But where it could go? I have no idea."
Nashville SC v Toronto: Smith refuses to rule out playoff push
Nashville SC are ignoring any suggestions that an MLS playoff position is out of their reach ahead of the midweek clash with Toronto at GEODIS Park.
That was the message from the Boys in Gold head coach Gary Smith, whose side sit 13th in the Eastern Conference after their 1-0 defeat to Charlotte FC last time out.
Nashville are still only three points adrift of ninth-placed Philadelphia Union and a place in the postseason, with Smith refusing to give up hope.
"I don't believe, and nor do any of the guys in the group, that we are by any way, shape or form, out of the hunt for a playoffs position," he said.
"A couple of results get you right back in to the mix again, and that's, of course, our challenge over the next two games."
Toronto are fourth in the East standings after their 3-2 defeat against New York City FC in their last outing.
Visiting head coach John Herdman is looking forward to facing a familiar face in Jacob Shaffelburg when his side visit, however.
"He's flying at Nashville," Herdman remarked on Monday. "I've seen some stats at the weekend about his impact on their team and how many touches he has in that opposition half and how many crosses are leading to goals.
"I remember having him in that Gold Cup recently. He came off the bench and scored against the US. It shows where he's at now as a player."
PLAYERS TO WATCHNashville SC – Sam Surridge
Former Nottingham Forest striker Sam Surridge continues to provide the goals for Nashville this term, scoring a club-leading five in MLS this campaign.
The Englishman failed to find the target against Charlotte, but managed a hat-trick against CF Montreal in his previous outing before that.
Toronto – Prince Osei Owusu
In the absence of the in-form Federico Bernardeschi, Prince Osei Owusu will be expected to step up against Nashville.
The Toronto forward leads the club scoring charts with five goals in 12 MLS appearances this year, two ahead of any teammate in the league.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
Opta's win probability has Nashville as the overwhelming favourites for this one, yet a draw may be more likely considering each team's recent form and head-to-head records.
Toronto are unbeaten in five straight meetings with Nashville (W2 D3), with the Boys in Gold the only side the Canadians have played three or more times since the start of the 2022 season and not lost against.
Nashville have also won only two of their last 16 matches against MLS opponents in all competitions (D6 L8), though 11 of the 12 points they have collected over that time have come at home (W2 D5 L3).
Smith's hosts have conceded at least once in 12 consecutive matches in all competitions, too, their longest streak in club history after opening the season with three straight clean sheets.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Nashville SC win: 55.4%
Toronto win:18.6%
Draw: 26%
Emery revels in 'special day' as Villa seal Champions League qualification
Unai Emery says Aston Villa have achieved their dream after qualification for next season's Champions League was secured.
Tottenham's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday left Ange Postecoglou's fifth-place side five points behind Villa, who subsequently sealed a fourth-place finish with a game to spare.
More importantly, the Villans are back in UEFA's premier club competition for the first time since the 1982-83 season, when they suffered European Cup quarter-final elimination to Juventus.
Additionally, the club secured their highest top-flight finish since the 1995-96 campaign, which they also ended in fourth place.
Emery, whose side reached this season's Europa Conference League semi-finals, now has his sights set on Europe's top prize next season, in which he is demanding even more from his players.
"It's a very special day," the Spaniard told Villa's official media channels. "It was our dream when we started the season to be here. To play Champions League is, after the Premier League, the best.
"You can play in the Premier League against the best teams in the world, it's very difficult. When you are playing in the Champions League, you are playing against the best teams, at the same time, from other countries. And it's amazing.
"We know the history of Aston Villa is so long and so successful. Even in the Champions League, we knew the responsibility was to try to increase our level, try to be demanding and to dream.
"I want to enjoy more and, next year, the new challenge starts for us. To build a team again, and be strong to go and always increase our level; this is our objective."
CF Montreal v Columbus Crew: Champions Cup final preparations Nancy's focus
Wilfried Nancy says the Columbus Crew will use their next three road games in MLS to prepare for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, starting with Wednesday's trip to CF Montreal.
MLS Cup holders Columbus will face Mexican side Pachuca in the Champions Cup final on June 1, having seen off Monterrey in the semi-finals earlier this month.
Before then, they face visits to Nancy's former employers Montreal, as well as the Chicago Fire and Orlando, in MLS. Last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to FC Cincinnati left the Crew eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Asked about the challenges presented by their road stretch, Nancy said: "It's exciting. We'll play many games, we'll face different kinds of teams.
"We want to challenge ourselves. We want to get better and find ways to have good performances. We have this spirit.
"This is the spirit of my team, the spirit of wanting to do well. We'll play Montreal, then Chicago and Orlando, then we play the final. Three games to prepare the final. This is the way we see it."
Montreal are just three points behind Columbus, having seen a 2-0 lead evaporate in their 3-2 defeat to Inter Miami last time out.
Despite the loss, midfielder Bryce Duke was encouraged by the way Montreal kept Lionel Messi quiet, saying: "We need to keep going in this direction and get results.
"It's going to be a tough month ahead. It will be important to recover and be ready for Wednesday.
"It's a great achievement to contain Messi, now the aim will be to keep the lead next time and play the full 90 minutes."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
CF Montreal – Jules-Anthony Vilsaint
Vilsaint recorded a goal and an assist against Miami, his second MLS game with one of each, with the other coming versus Columbus last September.
The only Canadian with more such games than Vilsaint for Montreal in MLS is Patrice Bernier, with five.
Columbus Crew – Max Arfsten
Arfsten scored what proved to be a late consolation off the bench against Cincinnati, his third career goal as a substitute in MLS (including playoffs).
Only three players have more goals off the bench in MLS play since the beginning of last season – Duncan McGuire with six, Josef Martinez with five and Tyler Wolff with four.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
Columbus are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Montreal, including a scoreless draw when the sides met in April.
The Crew's longest ever unbeaten run against Montreal is five matches, their last streak of that length being recorded between 2016 and 2018.
They had their nine-game unbeaten streak across all competitions snapped by Cincinnati last time out, though seven of those matches had finished level. Montreal tend to be solid at home, so another draw could be on the cards.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
CF Montreal – 36.8%
Columbus Crew – 34.7%
Draw – 28.5%
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