Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez was sent off the field vs Crystal Palace, with a red card, for headbutting defender Joachim Andersen at Anfield on Monday. The Uruguay national will now miss three games – against Manchester United, Bournemouth and Newcastle.

Nunez is in fact the first red card for violent conduct of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign, which started in 2015. 

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The Reds were 1-0 down with about 30 minutes left on the clock when Nunez, making his first competitive start for the Premier League giants, lost control after jostling with Joachim Andersen and thrust his head into the face of the Palace defender. 

Luis Diaz scored the equaliser four minutes later but Liverpool will be hurting after losing a quality striker in Darwin Nunez. 

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“A little provocation here and there – and definitely the wrong reaction. A clear red card, I cannot deny that. Yeah, he will learn from that. Unfortunately, he has now a few games’ time to do so. That’s not cool for us in our specific situation, even less, but that’s how it is,” manager Klopp said after the match. 

“Darwin knows he let his teammates down. I will talk to him. It makes no sense if I talk about it too much now in public. It was absolutely not a reaction we want to see. He knows he will be challenged in this way, centre-halves will do that, he’s a handful, but it is not a reaction we want.”

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Klopp lashed out at a journalist pre-match for questioning Nunez’s inclusion in the starting 11. 

“We have no other striker. I’m really curious that you see the lineup and prepare an interview and ask the questions you ask…but OK. The player scored last week and that’s why he starts,” he said. 

Liverpool, as per Klopp’s words, are now a major striker less. They will face a struggling Man United next week. And the Uruguay player’s absence is expected to hamper them. The 2019 European champs had started Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino on opening day but he put up an average show vs Fulham. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. 

Now, the Reds are without a win in the Premier League in two matches. Diogo Jota is injured, Kostas Tsimikas is recovering, Curtis Jones is out and Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara lack practice. 

Liverpool are in a fix.