Former Liverpool player Steve McManaman has lashed out at Reds’ striker Darwin Nunez for his unnecessary foul against Ajax in their Champions League game. Liverpool finally picked their first win in the European competition as they beat the Dutch champions 2-1 at home. However, it took a last gasp winner from defender Joel Matip to give Liverpool all three points.
The Reds’ record signing Darwin Nunez once again started the Champions League game from the bench, as Klopp opted for Diogo Jota over the Uruguayan. Liverpool went in front of their home crowd as Jota’s perfect pass was slotted in by Mohamed Salah in the 17th minute. However, their lead was lost after Mohammed Kudus equalized for the Dutch champions. But Joel Matip rose to the occasion, heading in a Kostas Tsimikas cross for a 89th minute winner.
McManaman feels Liverpool striker is ‘going nowhere’ with unwanted foul
Darwin Nunez has found it difficult to settle in at Merseyside following his £65 million move from Benfica this summer. The striker has started only 2 of 5 games he’s featured in and contributed with just a goal and an assist. Klopp has often opted for his regular players in attack, going forward with Roberto Firmino who has rediscovered his form netting 3 goals and providing 3 assists in 7 games, and Diogo Jota who is slowly gaining momentum after missing initial games through injury.
Moreover, Nunez seems to enjoy the antics after he picked a red card against Crystal Palace for headbutting Joachim Andersen. The Liverpool striker was then slapped with a three-game ban as he missed crucial games against Manchester United and Newcastle United alongside the Bournemouth win.
Pundits have called for Nunez to keep his cool and focus more on the game rather than developing a knack of enjoying such antics. McManaman has now slammed him for one such incident against Ajax, where the 23-year-old committed an unwarranted foul on center-back Jurien Timber in the final ten minutes resulting in time-wasting by the visitors. McManaman said:
“What on earth is he [Darwin Nunez] doing that [foul] for? I know he’s eager to get into the game, but he’s going nowhere, [with] Timber. And he gives him the opportunity to fall over.”
Nonetheless, the winner did come for the Reds through Matip who started a game in a while after recovering from a minor knock. Nunez too had a significant contribution going forward after coming off the bench in the 66th minute in place of Diogo Jota who assisted Salah for the opener.
The Uruguayan had 14 touches, 2 shots, and 2 aerial dues won as he constantly created a threat for the Ajax defenders. However, Nunez will be certainly disappointed not to get on the score-sheet after he missed an easy chance set up by Salah moments before the winner arrived from Matip. The striker will now head into international break with Uruguay as they face Iran and Canada in their final warm-up games before the World Cup.