Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was impressed by the impact Darwin Nunez had coming off the bench to turn the Community Shield in his side’s favour against Manchester City.
The 23-year-old Uruguay striker, who could become the club’s record signing if all the elements of his £85million summer deal with Benfica come to fruition, was introduced with 30 minutes to go and produced an impressive cameo.
He won the late penalty from which Mohamed Salah put the Reds 2-1 up and then stooped to head home in added time to seal a 3-1 win in Leicester.
But he also caused Ederson a few problems, drawing the City goalkeeper into a challenge which would probably have resulted in a penalty were it not for an offside flag in his very first attack and then forcing the Brazil international into a goal-denying save.
The bird-shaped obsession that drives James Crombie, one of Ireland’s best sports photographers
To contest or not to contest? That is the question for Ireland’s aerial game
Ciara Mageean speaks of ‘grieving’ process after missing Olympics
‘I’m the right guy in the right moment’ says new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim
“It was good, it was really good. It is clear it will get better with time,” said Klopp.
“We live in a world where everybody gets judged on first sight and that’s not helpful for anybody but it happens constantly.
“In the first few games (of pre-season) we were not even close to the fitness level of today and then when he came on, we passed each ball for him to chase it and after the third ball he was completely killed and then everybody judged his first touches and these kind of things.
“It’s just a joke but we have to live with that, he will deal with it brilliantly. We are patient and we know he can do good stuff.
“We all know they are a special species, strikers. The other thing everybody needs (are) little positives. That means goals, or goal involvements.
“I think Darwin would have been fine even without scoring the third one because the penalty was Millie’s cross and his header.
“The chance he had before he did really well, but Ederson reacted brilliantly. The goal was obviously the icing on the cake, so really pleased for him.
“You could see in his face, you could see in the face of all his team-mates how happy the boys are for him and that’s a really good sign after that short period of time that he is with us.”
Nunez’s involvement proved crucial as after Liverpool took a deserved 21st-minute lead through Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot which clipped Nathan Ake before going in via the far post, they were pegged back by an improved City after the break.
While £51m summer signing Erling Haaland did not score, fellow new arrival Julian Alvarez did, forcing home a close-range effort after 70 minutes.
Haaland had few chances to shoot never mind score, although he will want to forget his late effort from six yards when he hit the crossbar when faced with an open goal.
“He had chances, two or three in the first half, and one in the end, and always is there,” was City manager Pep Guardiola’s assessment.
Of the Norway international’s glaring late miss, he added: “He is strong, another time he will put it in the net. It happened. It is football. He was there.
“He had another goal disallowed because the ball was over the line.
“He fought a lot and made the movements. It is good for him to see the reality of a new country and new league.
“He was there but today he didn’t score and another day he will score. He has an incredible quality and he will do it.
“He has had just two weeks, two weeks and a half, and I am really comfortable with what we are seeing since we arrived this season.
“I am not absolutely concerned. The reality is we have two or three months ahead of us. He is going to help us.”
Later, the English Football Association issued a statement after flares had been let off at several stages during the match.
“We are aware of incidents during the FA Community Shield where flares were used in the stands,” it read.
“The use of smoke bombs or pyrotechnics in a football stadium is dangerous, illegal, and could have severe consequences.
“We can confirm that we are investigating the matter and will be working with the relevant authorities, the clubs and the police to identify the individuals involved and we will take appropriate action.
“This season, the FA, Premier League and EFL announced new measures and stronger sanctions to tackle anti-social and criminal behaviour in football grounds.
“Premier League and EFL clubs have agreed that if their fans are identified using flares in the stadium then those individuals would receive a club ban. We expect the club to also investigate these incidents and to implement the new rules where applicable.”
