Everybody should be "optimistic" about the impact Darwin Nunez will make at Liverpool, according to Jurgen Klopp.
The Uruguayan striker has struggled in his first few months at Anfield following a big-money move from Benfica, having not scored since the opening day Premier League draw at Fulham.
Nunez made his first Champions League start for Liverpool in Tuesday's 2-0 home win against Rangers, but was unable to find the net after being denied several times by opposition goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
Klopp is pleased that his forward is carving out opportunities though, and speaking at a press conference ahead of Sunday's clash with Arsenal, expressed his confidence that the goals will follow.
"It was down to his movement and the movement of the boys around [him]," he said, referring to Nunez's multiple chances against Rangers.
"One of the things he showed so far in all the games he played is that he brings himself quite frequently in good finishing positions, which is the most important thing for a striker. That's why everybody should be, could be, very optimistic about what is coming from him in the future."
Liverpool head to the Emirates Stadium this weekend to take on the Premier League leaders, who already have an 11-point advantage over the Reds, though having played a game more.
Following their 3-0 Europa League win against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, Arsenal have won nine of their opening 10 games in all competitions, just the third time they have done so in the club's history after 1903-04 and in 2007-08.
"All my respect, wow - really, really good job," Klopp said about Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta.
"When you need some time nobody wants to give you time. Maybe not all of us deserve time because you still have to be good and use the time, which Mikel obviously did. I have to say, lots of respect for it.
"They had a lot of talent already in the last few years, [Gabriel] Martinelli, I was very excited about him and he's become exactly the player I expected he would be.
"Martin Odegaard, I spoke to him when he was 15 from Norway when the whole world wanted him and he decided [to join] Real Madrid, but I remember as if it would have been yesterday - he sat at the table with his dad and we were all so excited [about his potential].
"He had a few difficult years, which is normal, and [now] he became the player everyone expected him to be. [Bukayo] Saka, I think from the first day since he's been playing it's incredible.
"The last line is really settled, they found a way how they want to defend. Last night they played a different line-up but still lots of quality, so they are a young team, very exciting team doing really well, and in the position they are, well deserved.
"But now we go there, we will try to cause them problems, I think that makes sense. I am looking forward to it."
One of Liverpool's main jobs on Sunday will be to stop the in-form Gabriel Jesus. The former Manchester City striker has scored five goals in eight Premier League games this season.
"I always liked him as a player. I know City wouldn't have sold him to every club. Exceptional player, you always saw that when he played for City. The Gabriel Jesus role at City, as a nine,a winger - was it last year when everyone said City has no number nine (laughs)?
"He's flying at the moment, full of confidence. That's what confidence does to top-class players, if you are not playing against them it is easy to enjoy what he is doing.
"But now [they are] our opponent for the weekend so we have to make sure that he will stop flying for a weekend."
Man Utd matchwinner Fernandes: Criticism part of the job
Bruno Fernandes said Manchester United's players cannot afford to get annoyed by outside criticism, after he scored twice to fire the Red Devils to a much-needed win over Sheffield United.
Erik ten Hag's team were roundly criticised for their performance in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City, as they surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 before inching through in a penalty shoot-out.
They had also gone four Premier League games without a win (three draws, one defeat) prior to Wednesday's meeting with the rock-bottom Blades, with their hopes of Champions League football all-but over.
They twice trailed as Sheffield United threatened a huge upset, but Fernandes scored twice and supplied an assist as they fought back to claim a 4-2 win.
Asked whether the noise around Sunday's semi-final win had affected the mood at Old Trafford, Fernandes told Sky Sports: "That's part of the job.
"You can be in a run of games where you win eight or nine in a row, and when you lose one you know you'll be criticised.
"Being at Manchester United demands winning every game, so it's part of the job. If there is anyone in the dressing room still not used to that, they will get used to it!
"Being a Manchester United player demands being ready to receive as much criticism as praise. We receive praise when we do good things so we can't be annoyed by the criticism.
"When people want to do that, they might have a point. We can think in a different way, but we have to take it in the same way as we take the credit they give us."
Ten Hag's team did look disjointed for long periods on Wednesday, though, and they have now conceded 50 Premier League goals this season.
The Red Devils have now shipped a half-century of goals in two of their last three Premier League campaigns, having done so just once in their previous 29.
Ten Hag, though, was content with most aspects of their performance, saying: "It was a good game for the crowd, they saw four goals and many chances that we created.
"I think we played quite well, we created many more chances, so there's many positives. But also negatives. Conceding two goals from giveaways, that's unacceptable.
"We want to play dynamic, attacking football. That is what we want to see. Since the winter we have created lots of chances and also scored a lot of those chances."
Premier League record falls as 2023-24 becomes most goal-laden 20-team season
The current Premier League season has become the most goal-laden 20-team campaign in the competition's history, with Harry Maguire the unlikely man to seal 2023-24's place in history.
Maguire scored Manchester United's first equaliser as they twice fought from behind to clinch a 4-2 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday, with Bruno Fernandes netting twice in the second half.
The centre-back's 42nd-minute header was a significant moment, representing the 1,085th goal scored in the Premier League this term.
That is the most ever scored in a season containing 20 teams, since 1995-96.
The 2022-23 season saw 1,084 goals scored, a tally that was reached on the final day to surpass the previous 20-team record of 1,072, set in 2018-19.
It was somewhat fitting for the record-breaking goal to be conceded by Sheffield United, who have certainly played their part in making 2023-24 the most goal-laden season to date.
The Blades have now shipped 92 goals this term, the most ever conceded in a 38-game Premier League campaign.
With four games to come, including a rematch with a Newcastle United team that thrashed them 8-0 earlier this campaign, the prospect of Chris Wilder's men bringing up triple figures is a realistic one.
Atalanta 4-1 Fiorentina (4-2 aggregate): Gasperini's team into Coppa Italia final
Atalanta beat 10-man Fiorentina 4-1 in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday to send them into the final with a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Ademola Lookman and Mario Pasalic netted in stoppage time to settle a thrilling tie, and Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta, who are also into the Europa League semi-finals, will now face 14-time Coppa Italia winners Juventus on May 15.
Atalanta, who lost the first leg 1-0, were quick to level the tie when midfielder Teun Koopmeiners scored in the eighth minute. However, Fiorentina defender Lucas Martinez Quarta netted with a header following a free kick after the break.
Gianluca Scamacca then levelled the tie again in the 75th minute with a stunning scissor kick, before Lookman made it 3-1 on the night in stoppage time, paving the way for Pasalic to put matters to bed.
Data Debrief
Atalanta are the first team to qualify for the Coppa Italia final after having lost the first leg since 2014-15, when Juve overturned a first-leg defeat... which also came against Fiorentina.
Koopmeiners, meanwhile, is the midfielder who scored the most goals in all competitions this season among those playing in Serie A (14).
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