Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen claims Darwin Nunez headbutted him twice and that he had frustrated the Liverpool striker all game as the two sides drew 1-1 on Monday.
Joachim Andersen claims Liverpool ace Darwin Nunez headbutted him twice
Joachim Andersen told Viaplay after Crystal Palace held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw on Monday that Darwin Nunez had already headbutted him once before referee Paul Tierney sent the Uruguay forward off during the 57th-minute of their Premier League encounter at Anfield.
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Nunez was making his home debut after a £64m, possibly rising to £85m, summer transfer from Benfica against the Eagles. Jurgen Klopp felt he was forced into starting the 23-year-old against Patrick Vieira’s squad with Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino absent with injuries.
Klopp now faces an even greater selection dilemma ahead of Liverpool visiting Manchester United next Monday. The FA are likely to hand Nunez a three-match ban after headbutting Andersen, but could see his punishment increased if the Palace defender’s claim is proven.
Anderson revealed after their Merseyside meeting that he had warned Nunez earlier in the match not to headbutt him again following an incident at a cross. But the 11-cap frontman, seemingly, ignored the Dane’s advice and let the red mist deepen early in the second-half.
A three-game ban will keep Nunez out of Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford, plus home games with Bournemouth and Newcastle United. His return may then be the Merseyside derby at Everton on September 3, should Klopp feel his new arrival deserves to start the key fixture.
Premier League defenders will take note of Joachim Andersen tactics
In the meantime, Premier League defenders and coaches will have noted how Andersen’s antics got under Nunez’s skin as Crystal Palace drew with Liverpool. The Eagles enforcer believes he irritated the Reds’ arrival throughout their encounter before the key incident.
“The whole game, I sat really close to him, I annoyed him a lot and did well against him,” he stated, via quotes by the Evening Standard. “I think that’s why he was angry with me.
“He headbutted me, the first one, at a cross and I told him he shouldn’t do that. I was angry with him. Then he did it again which is, for me, is really stupid. So, it’s a clear red card.”
Jota is unlikely to recover in time to replace Nunez during any suspension the FA hand the Liverpool forward. The Portuguese is recovering from a hamstring injury, and is not due to return to full training until the end of August. But Firmino may play at Manchester United.
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