Former Arsenal striker and pundit Ian Wright has dismissed claims that Darwin Nunez needs to bulk up physically after his frustrations with Joachim Andersen came to boiling point at Anfield on Monday.
The Uruguayan was sent off whilst Liverpool were 1-0 down to Crystal Palace on his home debut, but the Reds were able to salvage a draw via a wonderful effort from Luis Diaz.
Some fans have said that Nunez need to ‘toughen up’ and ‘bulk up’ after the act of aggression, but Wright strongly countered these claims on the Ringer FC podcast.
“I was reading a couple of comments that said he needs to bulk up, he needs to get in the gym. He doesn’t actually need to do it,” said the pundit.
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“Of course, he’ll need to get a bit more physical in respects of backing in and challenges because like we’ve seen, he’s great in the air, he’s got great pace.
“I personally thought his link-up play last night watching him, there were opportunities for Robertson to pass into him and people to pass into him in that lane where you need him to make the move, link the play."
"It was one of those games for him where you could just see the frustration building.”
Nunez was recorded as the fastest player in the Premier League last week, and, as seen in THAT fishing photo, he's not exactly out of shape.
It seems as if many are seeing this as a physical issue, when it was likely a piece of psychological trickery from Andersen and Palace.
On his home debut, Nunez was desperate to make an impression and was clearly seeing a head of steam.
The Eagles took advantage of this to get one over their Premier League rivals in the game.
Nunez will now be out for a minimum of three matches, with a return likely to occur in another feisty encounter in the Merseyside Derby.
Topics: Ian Wright, Liverpool, Darwin Nunez
Chris Stonadge