Jurgen Klopp has developed a knack for changing games with his bench, which has seen Liverpool create a gulf between themselves and their Premier League rivals.
Having struggled throughout the first half against Fulham and trailing thanks to Willian’s goal, the Reds only played eight minutes of the second half before Klopp headed to his bench.
Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo were stripped and set to replace the ineffective Ryan Gravenberch and Harvey Elliott, and played a major role in the 2-1 turnaround.
It was Núñez who set up Curtis Jones’ deflected equaliser, before the Uruguayan set up Gakpo for a winner.
30 – Liverpool have been involved in 30 substitute goals in all competitions this season (15 goals, 15 assists), 12 more than any other Premier League club. Seven of them have been from Darwin Núñez (3 goals, 4 assists), the most by a player on a Premier League team. Impact.
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 10, 2024
According to Opta, that took the number of goal contributions by Liverpool substitutes in all competitions to 30, which is at least 12 more than any Premier League club.
When asked in his post-match press conference what he attributes it to, Klopp replied: “The boys.
“I hope everyone knows… I don’t care if they know, I love kids, but you have to bring them in at the right time – or when you have to take risks, or whatever, that’s how it is.
“It must be the right time.
“But when we have everything available and the quality we can bring, it will be pretty good, I must say.
“Of course, at the moment they are not available, but the guys who came in obviously already have a lot of quality.
“The others will get it right in the future. And that’s the reason, you see.”
In the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals, it was Gakpo and Núñez who made the telling impact, with the Uruguayan making more goal contributions from the bench in all competitions this season than any other Premier League player (seven ).
However, Klopp also made sure to give his starters the credit they deserved: “The impact they had was obviously very big, but before that we were already a little bit better.”
It is a testament not only to the team’s mentality, but also to the improved acumen of Klopp and his staff, that Liverpool were still able to turn the tide with 10 senior players out.
Victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup third round and the lead over Fulham ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage has allowed everyone involved to take a break before the next game on January 21.
