Prior to Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had acknowledged that he cannot ensure Darwin Nunez won’t receive a second yellow card.
During the Reds’ 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Anfield, the Uruguayan was sent by referee Paul Tierney for losing his cool and headbutting Danish international Joachim Andersen.
Nunez could play for Liverpool when they travel to Goodison Park to face their fierce rivals Everton, who have lost all five of their opening games. Nunez has already served the required three-game suspension that comes with a dismissal for violent conduct.
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Prior to the game, Klopp spoke to the media and acknowledged that the club had spoken to Nunez about controlling his temper. He also expressed his opinion that Nunez’s countryman, Luis Suarez, had been in touch about how to adjust to Premier League defenders winding him up.
He is a fantastic young man, to be honest, but he also has feelings, stated Klopp. We erred by instructing him to settle down for the full 15 days without speaking to him about it. Of course, we told him now in particular, not just now. “You need to relax.” Of course, we told him now in particular, not just now.
I believe Luis Suarez told him; I’m not sure if they spoke in private, but it’s likely that they did using the news and other media. You just have to ignore it and use it because it will happen, but it also occurs to other people. In these circumstances, we believe and act as though we should pay back with football, and that is what actually happens.
“I doubt Tarkowski and Coady have a reputation for talking excessively like this during games. He already doesn’t grasp the majority of things, so there’s no need to go overly inventive. The two guys aren’t like this, in my opinion, but who knows? We’ll find out.
Nunez needs to be physically fit for fights against Everton and in the future, according to Klopp, who did acknowledge that he can’t stop another incident like the one at Palace from happening.
“If Darwin plays, then he must undoubtedly be prepared for these situations, that much is obvious. However, when a player is talking to you frequently or is acting physically aggressively, he is not playing his best game, and Nunez must make use of these situations as well. You can merely use it from the perspective of football if the other person is too preoccupied trying to divert his attention.
“For the Crystal Palace game, go from there and you pick when you start the movement, these kinds of things. When the defender is hunting for this continual contact. The boy experienced a lot all at once; it was his first home game, and there was a lot of excitement. Because of how emotionally charged games are in this country, it doesn’t take much to become a little overwrought.
“You can definitely see that the two weeks were helpful. Will it never occur once more? I don’t know, but I think the next game won’t have any significant events.