Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann doesn't believe Darwin Nunez headbutted Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen.
The Uruguayan striker was shown a straight red card after he lashed out the centre-back and is now suspended for three games. Jurgen Klopp 's side were 1-0 down at the time and in search of an equaliser, which came shortly after the incident through a moment of magic from Luis Diaz.
Down to 10 men, Liverpool were unable to salvage anything more than a draw and will now be without Nunez for the upcoming games against Manchester United, Bournemouth and Newcastle. Hamann believes the three game ban is enough of a punishment and isn't entirely convinced the 23-year-old headbutted Andersen.
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"I think he just walked into him," he said on talkSPORT. "It wasn't even a headbutt, he just walked into the defender Joachim Andersen. If it's a proper headbutt I can understand it to extend the ban, but he just walked into him. Three games is enough - he shouldn't do it.
"When I first saw it in real time I just thought that the defender maybe made a little bit more than it was, you see afterwards he already, I think, hit him on the chin. I'm not sure whether there's extensive force, I think he just walked into him. Of course, he shouldn't do it, he let himself down, let the team down, it didn't help Liverpool even though after he was sent off they started playing better than (they did) with him."
Klopp, however, would disagree as he admitted the headbutt isn't the reaction he wants to see from his players. "Darwin knows (he let his teammates down)," the boss said. "I will talk to him. It was not a reaction we want to see.
"He knows he will be challenged in this way, centre-halves will do that, but it is not a reaction we want. But we will use the time productively. We will use the suspension for physical work to make him strong - not a punishment but to make him stronger."
Liverpool currently sit 12th in the table, while Man City and Arsenal lead the way after two wins from two games.
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