Darwin Nunez should receive a FIVE-game ban after headbutting Joachim Andersen, insists Jason Cundy
Liverpool‘s Darwin Nunez should be handed a five-match ban after headbutting Joachim Andersen on Monday night, according to former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy.
The talkSPORT pundit was adamant that a regulation three-match ban is not sufficient punishment for Nunez, who headbutted Palace defender Andersen in the second half of his Anfield debut, resulting in a straight red card.
The Uruguayan striker was playing in front of the Kop for the first time but saw red after a tussle with Andersen while his side trailed the Eagles 1-0.
Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez (left) was sent off for headbutting Joachim Andersen on Monday
Nunez now faces a minimum of three matches on the sidelines after headbutting his opponent
Jason Cundy (pictured) believes Nunez should receive a five-match ban for the violent incident
Nunez’s headbutt came in the 57th minute with Liverpool trailing Palace 1-0
The former Tottenham and Blues defender claimed that Nunez’s actions could have caused serious damage to the Danish centre-back, saying on talkSPORT: ‘The headbutt from Nunez, I think he’ll end up with a bigger ban.
‘It was a disgrace. I think a five-match ban. It’s violent conduct. Headbutting someone – that’s an assault!
‘He headbutt him in the face. That for me is more than a three-match ban, what we’ve just seen him do, he could have broken his [Andersen’s] nose.’
The sending off cost Liverpool, who continued their poor start to the 2022-23 season with a second successive draw, having been held by Fulham on opening day.
And Cundy was not the only one to be shocked by what he saw, with Sky Sports’ Gary Neville saying: ‘It is a proper butt to the underside of the nose. It was a moment of madness. That is stupidity.’
Having gone behind to Wilfried Zaha’s brilliant opener, the Uruguayan left his new team-mates with an even taller order to take something from the game.
Jurgen Klopp said Nunez is provoked all of the time but it was not the correct way to respond
The incident happened in front of referee Paul Tierney after 57 minutes and manager Jurgen Klopp made no excuses for the Uruguayan who is now banned for three games starting with next Monday’s trip to Manchester United.
It was the second red card of his career and the first time a Liverpool player had been dismissed for violent conduct during Klopp’s reign.
Following the game, Klopp said: ‘Of course, it is a red card. He (Nunez) is provoked all the time but that is not how you should behave.
Luis Diaz’s equaliser in the 61st minute rescued a hard-earned point for the depleted hosts
‘Darwin knows himself it is not the reaction you want to see. Centre halves will do that to him but that is not the reaction. It is not cool for us in that situation. He will learn from it. I will speak to him.’
James Milner, who stood in as captain, added: ‘He will be disappointed and it is down to us to get around him and rally.’
As it stands, Nunez will miss clashes with Bournemouth and Newcastle, as well as next Monday’s trip to Old Trafford, but should it be extended any further he will sit out of September 3’s Merseyside derby.
