Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has disagreed with claims that Darwin Nunez will need to 'bulk up’ and adapt to the physicality of the Premier League.
The Liverpool striker was shown a straight red card during Monday’s draw with Crystal Palace at Anfield for headbutting Joachim Andersen. The pair were locked in a tussle throughout the first hour of the clash, and when Danish defender Andersen confronted Nunez over one particular coming together, the Uruguayan saw red - in more ways than one.
Footage shared on social media after the game showed Palace centre-back Andersen constantly harassing the 23-year-old in what has been described as a classic ‘welcome to the Premier League’ performance, and Nunez’s wild reaction has sparked claims that he needs to adapt to the physicality of the league’s hands-on defenders - but former striker turned pundit Wright disagrees.
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“I was reading a couple of comments that said he needs to bulk up, he needs to get in the gym. He doesn’t actually need to do it,” Wright told the Ringer FC podcast . “Of course he’ll need to get a bit more physical in respects of backing in and challenges because like we’ve seen, he’s great in the air, he’s got great pace.
“I personally thought his link-up play last night watching him, there were opportunities for Robertson to pass into him and people to pass into him in that lane where you need him to make the move, link the play. It was one of those games for him where you could just see the frustration building.”
Uruguay international Nunez’s frustration built up over the course of the 57 minutes he was on the pitch, and while Andersen’s constant proximity will have done no good, the Liverpool man would surely have been relieved had he finished one of his chances or linked up play more effectively.
The £64million summer signing will now be unavailable for three games - including Monday’s trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United - following a charge of violent conduct. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said after the Palace draw that he will use the period to make Nunez ‘even stronger.’
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