Liverpool's new striker Darwin Nunez was sent off on his Anfield debut after headbutting Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen on Monday night, in an incident that has led fans to compare the incident with the infamous Zinedine Zidane headbutt in the 2006 World Cup finals.
In what has shocked Liverpool fans, new signee Darwin Nunez was sent off for a headbutt on his home debut at Anfield against Crystal Palace on Monday. In the second half of the Premier League clash's 1-1 draw, the 64 million-pound Uruguayan striker shoved his head into Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen and received a straight red card.
Under Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Nunez is the first player to be dismissed from a game for violent behaviour. The sensational striker will now serve a three-game suspension, beginning next week against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Darwin Nunez RED CARD 😂😂😂😂😂
Bro thinks he’s Zidane 😂😂😂😂
pic.twitter.com/2OHlCFJimc
Following this shocking behaviour, the Liverpool manager said he would speak to Nunez about his conduct and added that the 23-year-old deserved his card. "No, I won't speak to him for three games!" he joked. "No, I will speak to him, of course.
"I wanted to see the situation first. I didn't know what happened. I saw Andersen on the floor and Darwin walking away. That was my view. So I asked our guys, I saw it, and yes, it was a red card, the wrong reaction. Andersen wanted that, and he got it, but Darwin made a mistake," the German added.
"A little provocation here and there, and definitely the wrong reaction. I can't deny that. He will learn from that. Unfortunately, he will have a few games to do so, which is not cool for us, even less with our specific situation, but it is what it is," Klopp concluded.
🗣️"That's not how he should behave"
Jürgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool's draw with Crystal Palace and Darwin Núñez's red card 🟥 pic.twitter.com/j4zH1Uvveq
Meanwhile, veteran James Milner told Sky Sports, "He (Nunez) is going to be disappointed in that. We have to get around him and rally. He will learn from it. The team reacted well, and the ground did and got behind us."
The incident has sparked a massive conversation on Twitter, with several users trolling Nunez for thinking he is Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman's infamous headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final remains one of football's most widely spoken on-field incidents. Here's a look at some of the reactions on the micro-blogging site:
Darwin Nunez decided to act exactly like Zinedine Zidane in 2006😅😅
And got a red card for it. pic.twitter.com/TdZhwWfQx8
Zidane is already proud of Darwin Nunez 😂😂pic.twitter.com/Vag2iaqi8A
— JEY 🇺🇸 (@MmoaNkoaaa)Which one seems deadly???
Darwin Nunez. Or Zidane pic.twitter.com/wXEJCPOxxl
Darwin Nunez has Lukaku’s first touch, Andy Carroll’s look and Zidane’s head butting skills.
— Alexei (@MUFC_redarmy99)Darwin Nunez choose this moment as his best Zidane iconic moment instead of getting goals with his head
Van Dijk Joao Felix Mata Mane Morata Vlahovic Ramos Di Maria Trent Arnold James Garner Luis Diaz pic.twitter.com/bZC2loC5GL
Zidane watching Darwin Nunez trying to headbutt a player pic.twitter.com/3EjKMlTSwi
— Footymemes.21 (@footymemes21)Darwin Nunez thinks he is Zidane pic.twitter.com/80KUwQUysY
— GurkhaUTD 🇳🇵 ⚔️ (@ronaldoSuuiiiii)100M wasted successfully
Darwin Nunez couldn’t even play shot on target, emake he turn prime Zidane dey head people 😭😭😂😂😂
Darwin Nunez just head butted a Crystal Palace player and got sent off. Man thinks he’s Zidane 💀
— Munich Fanpage (@MunichFanpage)Darwin Nunez doing his best Zidane impression.
— Transfer Dan (@TheTransferOne)Darwin Nunez missed 2 big chances , then tried so hard to be Zidane but chose the wrong zizou and now he’s sent off
— PRESIDER (@iam_presider)Darwin Nunez has Zidane as his idol cos this head-but makes no sense 🤦🏿♂️
— Ivan 🇬🇭🧍🏿 (@Mrbelgium1)Zidane headbutt is much better than Darwin Nunez’s headbutt 😎🤷♂️
welcome to premier league Nunez they gonna provoke you here Mfana!🧏. pic.twitter.com/0rO63xM0oH
When Darwin Nunez acknowledged Zinedine Zidane as his mentor
We didn't get the code until he proved he meant it pic.twitter.com/QoP09fjjrA
Darwin Nunez’s moment of madness. The legendary Zinedine Zidane must be saying ”I am your idol boy” pic.twitter.com/jHzyO2v5ra
— Atif077 (@AtifuzzamanShu2)Darwin Nunez vs Crystal Palace Highlights 2022/23 “Zidane’s Apprentice?” pic.twitter.com/Iecr45CfTs
— Kidane🇯🇲🇻🇨 (@KCritical26)Darwin Nunez just tried Zidane world Cup final.
But Diaz scored from out of no where ! What a fantastic goal
They’ve got Nunez, Darwin Nunez
I just don’t think you understand
He headbutts like Zidane
He’s got a three game ban
They’ve got Darwin Nunez