Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has warned that the Liverpool squad will have ‘something to say’ to Darwin Nunez after he saw red for a headbutt on Monday night.
The 23-year-old had a home debut to forget against Patrick Vieira’s side, failing to evade the constant physicality of Joachim Andersen before snapping on the hour mark and striking the Dane. Referee Paul Tierney was yards away from the incident and had no option but to show the Reds forward a straight red, meaning he will be banned for at least three games.
Luis Diaz equalised with a stunning solo effort just minutes after, but a man down and without a recognised forward - Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino were both injured - Jurgen Klopp’s side managed just a point for the second game running. And ex-Palace boss Jordan has hinted that the experienced members of the dressing room will have ‘something to say’, adding that the striker will have to face the ‘reality’ of playing for Liverpool.
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“ The fella headbutted him. We can compare the levels of crime but it’s a sending off offence, irrespective of how quickly or how dramatic the player goes down,” Jordan told TalkSPORT . “My first reaction was what a ridiculous thing to do and he’s headbutted him in the face - he’s going to get sent off.
“I didn’t analyse because he’s (Andersen) a Crystal Palace player or I’ve got a vested interest, simply it was a reaction for a number of reasons and I think it’ll be the first and last time he’s done it. I think you’re playing in a dressing room with big players in there, big leaders.
“Jordan Henderson and a few others who will have something to say about that, James Milner was balanced in his interview. But players have influence and a manager that doesn’t take nonsense, I think the player will have his mind concentrated by the reality of playing for Liverpool.”
Two more points dropped - following last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Fulham - means Liverpool are already four points behind Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, and with the treatment room at the AXA Training Centre filling up, there is concern that Klopp’s side are already playing catch up.
But there are still 36 games left and 108 points available, and Jordan urged fans to ‘not get carried away’, adding that it will take some more time to replace the goals and influence of Sadio Mane.
“Let’s not get carried away, Liverpool will be a machine, Liverpool will get going,” the former Palace chairman added. “Of course when you lose a player in Mane, they haven’t replaced him and Nunez is a proper player and will be a proper player. Klopp doesn’t sign bad players as a rule. So Liverpool’s machine will start to get going at some point.”
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