"Listen to an idiot like me..." - Darwin Nunez reveals advice from "idol" after early Liverpool setback

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez revealed that Uruguay teammate Luis Suarez rang him to offer some Premier League advice.

Nunez joined the Reds for a club-record fee of £85million last summer. However, the 23-year-old had a tricky start to life in Merseyside.

After scoring a goal and assist on his Premier League debut against Fulham, Nunez was shown a red card in his second league outing for head-butting Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen.

The incident resulted in a three-match ban, damaging his relationship with the fans. However, the former Benfica star revealed that he received a useful phone call from fellow Uruguayan Luis Suarez.

Suarez became an Anfield cult hero between 2011 and 2014, registering 82 goals and 46 assists in 133 appearances for the club.

However, the 36-year-old, who was recently voted the greatest January signing of all time, was prone to the occasional stroke of madness.

Suarez: "Listen to an idiot like me"

Speaking to ESPN, Nunez expressed his gratitude to the ex-Barcelona man, stating: "It was a good thing because not many would bother themselves to pick up the phone and send you a message. I think his gesture was really important for me."

"Luis is a reference point, an idol everywhere in the world. I'm getting started, I'm young, and he knows about all those things because he already played in the Premier League with Liverpool.

"Luis told me that these things will happen in every game in the Premier League, that they'll come and find me, that they're going to bump into me, and that I need to make myself strong and not repeat my screw-up.

"He said: 'Listen to an idiot like me.' I really appreciate that message and the fondness he has for me."

The pair played alongside each other at the World Cup. However, Uruguay were unable to make it past the group stages in Qatar.

Now back to full-match fitness, Nunez will be hoping to help the Reds get their season back on track, after slipping to ninth in the table.

Topics: Darwin Nunez, Liverpool, Luis Suarez, Uruguay, Premier League, Football

Joe Adams

Joe is a Journalist for SPORTbible with a primary focus on football. He has previously covered a number of other sports including boxing, rugby and F1. Wishes he was born left-footed.

@joeadamsjourno