Jurgen Klopp has praised Taiwo Awoniyi after the Nottingham Forest striker came back to haunt Liverpool with a winning goal on Saturday.
Liverpool headed to the City Ground on Saturday with real hope of another win.
Beating Manchester City and West Ham United had raised spirits at Anfield but fans were left stunned on Saturday afternoon.
Forest – who had won just one in 11 games to start their Premier League return – claimed a stunning 1-0 win with Awoniyi scoring the only goal of the game.
Jurgen Klopp has praised Taiwo Awoniyi
If you’re a Liverpool fan, that name may well ring some bells.
Awoniyi emerged in the Imperial Soccer Academy over in Nigeria and caught the attention of Liverpool.
The Reds signed Awoniyi after seeing shine for Nigeria’s Under-17’s and Under-20’s but his time at Anfield didn’t go to plan.
Work permit problems meant Awoniyi had to go out on loan a staggering seven times during his Liverpool stint.
The final loan spell, with Union Berlin during the 2020-21 season, resulted in a permanent move for £6.5million and he excelled.
20 goals in 43 games last season meant Nottingham Forest were tempted into paying £17.5million this past summer.
Awoniyi has made a slow start to life with Forest but he started to repay that fee by scoring against his former employers.
It just felt written in the stars that Awoniyi would make some kind of impact against Liverpool and so it proved.
Liverpool boss Klopp was of course asked about Awoniyi after the game, having seen potential in him with the Reds.
Klopp noted to BBC Sport that Awoniyi’s development has been ‘sensational’ recent years and believes that he belongs in the Premier League.
Klopp added that he is happy for Awoniyi after finally becoming a Premier League player but just wishes he hadn’t scored against Liverpool.
“He had a sensational development,” said Klopp. “He has arrived where he belongs and I am happy for him, but not today so much,” he added.
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