After being sent off for headbutting Joachim Andersen during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, Luis Suarez has urged fellow Uruguayan Darwin Nunez to learn from his mistakes.
The 35-year-old Nacional forward, who was no stranger to controversy during his three-year spell at Anfield, revealed he spoke with Nunez to offer advice after the striker’s first Premier League start was cut short.
Suarez, who called himself a “idiot,” admitted that he “suffered” from his mistakes in the Premier League and urged Nunez to come back stronger.
‘I talked to him because he is just starting out, and I wanted to make him aware that [opponents] will be seeking him out twice or three times more frequently from now on,’ the Uruguayan international said.
‘This is especially true in England. He’s hearing it from an idiot who made mistakes and suffered as a result of them, but falling down and getting back up strengthened me.
‘Don’t give them any more chances; they’ll only make things worse.’
Suarez received an eight-match ban from Liverpool after the FA found him guilty of racially abusing Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra.
Following his blockbuster move to Barcelona in 2014, the striker received a four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
Nunez’s blood rush on Monday was most likely the result of Andersen frustrating him for 57 minutes.
Crystal Palace defender harried the 23-year-old with strong challenges and physical jostling until he erupted and was sent off.
Given that Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino were both injured against Palace, Nunez’s dismissal has exacerbated Jurgen Klopp’s attack problems.
The German manager will now be without his £85 million signing for the next three games, including Monday’s trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
Suarez, on the other hand, has insisted that his international teammate will recover from the red card and has suggested that English fans and media are to blame for’making a big deal’ out of the situation.
‘Darwin is someone who listens a lot,’ he remarked.
‘He is quite intelligent in that regard, and I believe he will attempt to turn this situation around.’
It’s not a huge issue; we’ve all made errors and been sent away.
‘The trouble is that he’s just recently arrived over there, and to put it mildly, they make a huge deal out of everything in England.’
Suarez and Nunez will play together in the group stage of the Qatar World Cup in November, where Uruguay will face Portugal, Ghana, and South Korea.