Ajax defender Jurrien Timber has claimed that he can’t wait to face Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez in the Champions League this season.
The Reds will face the Dutch Champions after yesterday’s Group Stage draw. And having scored the goal that knocked Ajax out last season, Timber says he’s keen to settle a score with the Liverpool striker.
“I immediately thought of it [Nunez’s goal last season]. The intention is that I will be the boss of him now,” said the 21-year-old via Voetbal International.
Fighting talk! No doubt Nunez will be reading on with interest. The 23-year-old was brilliant in the Champions League for Benfica last season. He’ll be desperate to replicate that with Liverpool.
Liverpool look forward to some familiar trips
Yesterday’s draw has thrown up an intriguing group for Liverpool. Both Ajax and in particular Napoli are familiar opponents having played The Reds in recent years.
Rangers offer a bit of a different threat and Liverpool will have to be wary of the famous Ibrox atmosphere. But on the whole, they should be heavy favourites to go through.
Timber feels the same way. No doubt the draw represents a tough one for all the sides who’ll have to come to Anfield. The young defender is looking forward to it all the same though.
“It’s a tough group, but they’re fun teams to play against. The away games will be super nice. I read that Napoli have been unbeaten in Champions League home games for the past two years. Liverpool, of course, made it to the final and Rangers did that in the Europa League,” he said,
“Last time I was there too, but I was sitting on the bench in an empty stadium [at Anfield]. We played pretty well then. I don’t think we’re the favourite, but it’s a nice test for us. Also for me personally.”
Liverpool won the game in question 1-0. In the dismal 20/21 season The Reds were actually relatively good in the Champions League.
Curtis Jones got the winner for Liverpool at Anfield, while a depleted side won 1-0 away in Amsterdam. The same again and we’ll be well on our way to qualification.
With £64m Nunez now in the team, The Reds may just have that little phycological edge against the side he helped dump out only six months ago.