The Ajax supporters were livid with the Uruguayan.
Darwin Nunez was back in the Liverpool starting line-up, after missing the club’s weekend league defeat to Nottingham Forest, and the Ajax supporters paid him little mind. Up until the 36th minute of this evening’s Champions League encounter, that is.
Nunez was running around, covering plenty of ground and trying to stretch the Ajax defence, but he was getting little change.
It was Ajax that should have been in front, with Steven Berghuis [clip below] and Dusan Tadic both having gilt-edged chances to score.
Early let-off for Liverpool 😮 pic.twitter.com/FzfMXUrwqp
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 26, 2022
With the game locked at 0-0, Darwin Nunez chased down Calvin Bassey, near the far touchline.
As Bassey was looking to fend off the Liverpool forward, so he could make a clearance, his hand swatted the side of his head. Nunez went down as if he had been struck with a sack of brass door-knobs and clutched his face as he rolled around on the pitch.
Replays did show that Nunez did feel some contact, but it was far from forceful and play was waved on.
Any time Nunez touched the ball, following the incident, he was whistled and jeered by home fans at the Amsterdam Arena.
Liverpool took the lead with their first on target, on the night, after 40 minutes. Jordan Henderson teed up Mo Salah and he scored with a lovely first-time finish.
Nunez had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 but hit the post from four yards out after being teed up by Roberto Firmino.
Oh what a miss from Darwin Nunez.#AJALIV | #UCL pic.twitter.com/svVXrxuYCi
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 26, 2022
Liverpool really paid 100M for Darwin Nunez… Let that sink in…
— 🇨🇩 Ced-Rizzy 🇺🇸 (@Cedreazy) October 26, 2022
If I told you Darwin Nunez missed this would you believe me? pic.twitter.com/r6pt6SPCBy
— Mezy (@MezyTwitch) October 26, 2022
It's eh, been a tough evening for Darwin Nunez so far pic.twitter.com/8jAdhYjYE1
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 26, 2022
Liverpool have already qualified for the knock-out stages but will have to settle for second in a group that Napoli have been very impressive in.
The second half saw business pick up for Darwin Nunez as he headed Liverpool 2-0 in front, before Harvey Elliott added a third.
Related links:
- Jurgen Klopp takes legal action Man City over xenophobia claim
- Jurgen Klopp reflects on Liverpool’s surprise defeat to Nottingham Forest
- Eddie Howe insists there is a ceiling for Newcastle after Jürgen Klopp comments
