Darwin Nunez leaves talkSPORT pundits baffled by nearly getting sent off after two-goal heroics

Today at 12:46 PM

Darwin Nunez stunned talkSPORT’s commentary team as the Liverpool star was almost inexplicably sent off after his match-winning goal heroics.

The Uruguayan forward answered his doubters in fine style by coming off the bench to secure a huge three points for the Reds against Brentford.

Nunez made quite the impression, scoring twice in stoppage-time to give Arne Slot’s side a 2-0 victory over the Bees in a game that looked destined to end in a 0-0 draw.

But it was a moment of madness just seconds later that left talkSPORT duo Adrian Durham and Troy Deeney flabbergasted.

Speaking on GameDay Live, Durham said: “He’s already been booked, Darwin Nunez, for taking his shirt off to celebrate the first goal, and now he’s just gone flying into a challenge on Nathan Collins who felt the force of that. That’s a second booking, isn’t it?”

Deeney replied: “It definitely is. The referee looked after him once because he did go back into the fans after the second goal.

“We’ve just had a lovely view of Arne Slot who winced because he should have been sent off.

“He went into the crowd after his second goal. So it should’ve been three yellow cards. All day it’s a sending off. It totally encapsulates him.”

Durham continued: “The referee bottled it. It’s clearly a second yellow.

“The referee sort of put his fingers together to say that it’s close to being another yellow card – no, it is another yellow card.

“What a sub appearance that would have been – two goals and a red card!”

To which Deeney replied: “That’s why he’s not got one, because it’s the last action. The game’s already over.”

Despite his near-miss with a potential sending off, Nunez’s goals proved to be the difference for Liverpool and sent them seven points clear at the top of the table as the whistle blew in their game.

Just the fifth and sixth goal the 25-year-old has scored this term, Nunez has attracted plenty of criticism but received praise from ex-Watford striker Deeney, who threw his support behind his fellow frontman.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Deeney said: “Darwin Nunez, you have been the butt of a lot of jokes this season.

“It just shows what a goal can do.

“Darwin, I believe in you, sir. Don’t worry about anyone else.”

Those goals could also go a long way to earning a more regular spot under Liverpool boss Slot, following the Dutchman’s comments about the striker this week.

Ahead of the Brentford game, Slot said: “Darwin is a striker we have to use in a certain way and we were not able yet to bring the best out of him this season.

"Against Accrington Stanley again you saw that he has a lot of pace but, unfortunately for him, most teams sit back a lot against us.

"If you look back at the goals he scored for us, I remember the one against Villa when he went around the goalkeeper on a fast break, that is his main strength.

“He has other qualities as well – but we are still working on getting him in the best possible positions against a low block.

"That involves the right timings, the right crosses, the right position to start from and making the right run."

Liverpool are next in action on Tuesday night when they face Lille in the Champions League.