Jürgen Klopp will tell Darwin Núñez he needs to learn not to lose self-control after the new Liverpool striker was sent off for a head-butt on his full Premier League debut.
The Uruguay international, signed for a potential club record £85m from Benfica this summer, received a straight red card for thrusting his head into Joachim Andersen’s face during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Anfield. He will be banned for forthcoming games against Manchester United, Bournemouth and Newcastle.
“There was provocation but it was definitely the wrong reaction,” the Liverpool manager admitted. “He will learn from that. Unfortunately he has now three games to do that. It is not cool for us but it is how it is.
“Of course I will speak with him. I came in [after the game] and wanted to see the situation [on television]. In the game I could not see anything so I could know what happened. I saw Andersen on the floor and Darwin walking away. That was my picture. Then I saw it – yes it is a red card. Wrong reaction in the situation. Andersen wanted that, he got it but he (Núñez) made a mistake. Of course I will talk about it with Darwin but not yet.”
Luis Díaz struck a superb equaliser for the 10 men of Liverpool, who trailed to Wilfried Zaha’s breakaway goal and responded well to Núñez’s dismissal but are now four points behind leaders Manchester City.
Klopp added: “We did extremely well at times but there were a lot of legs in the box. I think they blocked seven shots in the first half, that is an incredible number. The start of the second half was positive again and then the red card happened. But it was the best possible reaction, a wonderful goal, and from that moment it was a special game. That was us at home with a special atmosphere, unfortunately without a goal.
“It is not common with 10 against 11 that you put a team under as much pressure as we did. I can imagine the kind of articles and headlines and commentaries it leads to but that is life.”
The Liverpool manager said the central defender Joël Matip will remain out with a muscle injury while Jordan Henderson is also carrying a slight injury.
“It will be two weeks … more, I think [for Matip]. We will see,” said Klopp. “The week was crazy. It was like we had a witch in the building, honestly. Every day somebody else pulled out for the craziest reasons.”
