Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi walked alone at the City Ground to break the hearts of millions at Merseyside, killing the Kop to get his pound of flesh, IKENWA NNABUOGOR talks up a tale of giant-killing acts by a striker who was shown the door when opening it would have been better…
Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi reminded Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool higher-ups he couldn’t have been released after all by turning them back empty handed with a super strike Saturday to prove he was worth a better chance at Merseyside.
Awoniyi couldn’t have chosen a better opportunity to break millions of Merseyside hearts by doing his home fans proud with the 55th minute strike that proved to be enough to face their relegation fight head on.
The former KAA Gent of Belgium striker was honourably discharged from the Kop “Army” after seven years of meritorious service, but appears to remind Klopp that the defection of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich may probably not be felt had he (Klopp) kept him as Liverpool languish in seventh place with paltry 16 points from 11 games.
Awoniyi’s killer was the third defeat the English Premier League perennial champions have suffered this season as they continue to miss Mane’s firepower in an attack that has yet to feel the fiery impact of their free-scoring Egyptian import, Mohammed Salah.
Awoniyi’s seven years with ‘The Reds’ ended without the 25-year-old former youth international becoming a proud Kop, rather he was eventually traded to Union Berlin.
Awoniyi was surprised when he was finally sold to the German side after returning from an initial loan in the German capital city and he looked more likely to become a full Kop after he did well in the pre-season ahead of last season before Union Berlin signed him permanently.
Klopp admitted his former ward was great in the surprise 1-0 City Ground loss, but shied away from agreeing Liverpool may have made a mistake by letting the Ilorin-born star leave especially this current season that they are lacking enough firepower.
With Sane off to Bayern, Salah yet to be at his best and new signing the Uruguayan Darwin Nunez getting involved more in on-the-pitch bust-ups than making hay, Liverpool have struggled this season and are not looking like title contenders.
Awoniyi’s permanent transfer to Germany may well have been too hasty by Liverpool.
The lure of the English Premier League was too hard to resist for the hardworking Nigerian and believed he would walk his way back to the glamourous league by scoring goals on loan to continue proving himself and attracting suitors from the English Premier League.
The wish wasn’t long in coming as Cooper who had pulled a mouthwatering Premier League come back after 21 years in the wilderness, made him the team’s record transfer after they paid Union Berlin £18 million for his services.
Awoniyi’s Reds dreams finally ended after enduring whooping seven loan deals since signing with the Merseyside giants in 2015, but found consolation at the Reds of Nottingham Forest for him to be involved in the Premier League.
Awoniyi’s latest effort was his first in his last four league games as well as his first start in three games after enduring manager Steven Cooper’s reorganisation in the attack that saw him drop to the bench, but he grabbed the opportunity with such aplomb to return smiles to the face of the embattled Welshman, who’s struggling to steer his ship ashore.
This famous victory has temporarily moved them a point above Leicester City at the bottom of the league table.
Could this unforgettable goal mean Awoniyi is back on his scoring mission for which Forest broke the bank for him?
One thing is certain, scoring against mighty Liverpool, who denied him first- team football for seven years, will definitely boost his confidence to shoot his team out of relegation trouble.
Is Cooper now fully convinced to hand him the mantle as well as the confidence to lead the Forest attack week in, week out?
After all, Awoniyi has justified his three starts with as many goals including the match winner against West Ham to give Forest their first win back in the Premier League.
Cooper made no pretense of the immense pressure associated with the English top-flight football after gaining promotion with his robust trading on the transfer market that saw a whooping 23 players arrive at the City Ground including Awoniyi’s compatriot Emmanuel Dennis, to step up to face the big boys.
Awoniyi knows his way to goal, he’s intelligent, strong, competitive and he understands the huge tasks before him and his mates that more efforts like the Liverpool winner will surely keep the new entrants afloat.
Besides, this is his very first season in England and he would very much want to make a good first impression on such a big stage.
Dennis did so with Watford last season and he is back in the Premier League with Forest even after Watford were relegated.
A combo with his compatriot and national team mate Dennis will catch his and Cooper’s eye to bring extra energy that’s lacking in the Forest attacking line and Awoniyi will be looking forward to more regular first-team action with Dennis.
Dennis combines skill, power and goals and looking more daring from the wings and feeding his friend Awoniyi from the flanks for a cool finish wouldn’t be a bad idea.
The Liverpool effort was Awoniyi’s third goal in nine appearances thus far and he will be looking to scoring more.
Awoniyi’s got unfinished business with his national team and will continue to fire well to earn the approval of coach Jose Peseiro to be part of the Super Eagles’ attack and his form at Forest will definitely determine this.
Peseiro is also as embattled as Cooper is, but will count on Awoniyi and the rest to make his Eagles’ stay worthwhile as his job continues to attract more criticisms than accolades.
The Portuguese has kept faith with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who he inherited from Augustine Eguavoen, and it will take Awoniyi to bring something special for him to be given another look by the national team.
France-based Terem Moffi is now ahead of Awoniyi in the Super Eagles pecking order, while Sadiq Umar was also considered ahead of the Forest star before he suffered a long-term injury recently.
If Awoniyi picked up the pace on the back of this Liverpool booster, would you bet against ‘The Reds’ on Merseyside resigning him?
