Darwin Nunez slammed for ‘cowardly and disrespectful’ decision but angry Arne Slot rant pays off

Rookie referee Lewis Smith showed the Uruguayan striker a yellow card for his petulant challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters on Saturday – a tackle that did not go down well with one former Anfield defender

After 31-year-old referee Lewis Smith had shown Darwin Nunez a yellow card for a petulant attack on Kyle Walker-Peters just before half-time in Liverpool’s win over Southampton, many thought the Uruguayan striker would be substituted at the break.

Even if it was for one ill-advised moment, Nunez had clearly lost his head and would be walking a disciplinary tightrope in the second half.

But Arne Slot, serving the second game of his two-match touchline ban, came down from the stands, delivered an angry talk to the entire team but kept faith with Nunez.

The Liverpool manager was rewarded with an equaliser from Nunez, who then went on to win the penalty that put Liverpool ahead and on course for a 3-1 win.

And having provided a wonderful assist for Harvey Elliott’s winner in the Parc des Princes last week, Nunez could even be given a starting role for the second leg against PSG. But his challenge on Walker-Peters has not gone down well with one ex-Liverpool player.

“It’s just a cowardly tackle, isn’t it?” declared Stephen Warnock on Sky Sports News. “I hate those types of tackles because it is just disrespectful to a fellow professional.”

The Southampton players were incensed with Nunez and thought he should have been dismissed. But Matt Donohue – the VAR and, at 35, another young official – recommended Smith stayed with his on-field decision, which was a booking for Nunez.

And according to former ref Dermot Gallagher – discussing the incident with Warnock on Sky Sports News’ Ref Watch – the decision was the right one. Gallagher said: “It’s petulant but if he had really followed through, he’s getting a red card. It’s so unwise but it is a yellow. It doesn’t have the intensity and violence (for a red). It could be a lot worse. That is what saved him.”

At the time, pundit Chris Sutton branded the Nunez challenge “daft” and “reckless”. Nunez now has seven yellow cards in the Premier League this season, despite making only eight starts.

But the 25-year-old is pressing for more starts, having responded positively to surprise public criticism from Slot. Nunez was a second half substitute in the win over Wolves in mid-February and, a few days later, in the draw at Aston Villa, when he missed an open goal.

And when discussing his team selections the following week, Slot said: “I helped him by saying you can miss a chance … but, for the second time in a row, I wasn’t happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa. I can’t accept it if a player doesn’t give everything. That is clear. I can accept it once but twice was a bit too much.” But less than a month later, it now seems Nunez is very much back in his manager’s good books.

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