Darwin Nunez’s reaction towards Southampton fans after scoring Liverpool’s equaliser – and avoiding a red card – speaks volumes.
The Reds went into half-time 1-0 down against the Saints at Anfield after a defensive mix-up between Alisson and Virgil van Dijk.
Will Smallbone slotted home to give Ivan Juric’s side a shock lead into the half-time interval.
Things were almost worse for Liverpool after Nunez survived a VAR check for a wild challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters.
The Uruguayan was criticised for his performance in the first half but responded in perfect fashion in the second half.
Liverpool were 45 minutes away from just their second home defeat in any competition this season, after their 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest earlier in the season. But their centre forward had other ideas.
Nunez scored the equaliser for the Reds – before then winning them a penalty, which Mohamed Salah converted.
Celebrating his goal, the Uruguayan performed a ‘shush’ gesture towards the visiting supporters at Anfield.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot praised Nunez in the build-up to the Southampton clash, having set up Harvey Elliott for the Reds’ winner in their 1-0 victory over PSG on Wednesday.
He told reporters in his pre-match press conference before facing the Saints: “I think he was just back to being normal Darwin, the player he was for seven or eight months [previously].
“He is so loved by the fans because he always gives everything since he’s been here.
“That is what he’s always done, that is what he did against Paris Saint-Germain, and that is what he did in the last week as well.
“He had one or two games that were not perfect, that also had to do with him missing that chance against Villa. But sometimes these things happen and now he is back to being the normal Darwin.”
