Liverpool FC have made a false start to the new season on and off the pitch. Record-breaking striker Darwin played his part in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.
In addition to the many absences Liverpool FC already have to deal with, there was a particularly unnecessary one on Monday night. Darwin, who arrived from Benfica for 75 million euros before the season, making him the most expensive attacker in the club’s history, was sent off in his first home game and first starting appearance for an assault that even his coach did not try to gloss over.
“There was a provocation, but it was definitely the wrong reaction,” Jürgen Klopp said after the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. In the 57th minute, Darwin had reacted to a shove from counterpart Joachim Andersen with a check towards his head. The 23-year-old Uruguayan will thus miss the league games at Manchester United, against Bournemouth and against Newcastle suspended.
Klopp: “We had a really difficult week “
“Darwin let his teammates down,” Klopp criticised, calling it a “mistake” by the new signing. “I will leave him alone for one night and then talk to him tomorrow.” He said Darwin, who must know that defenders would come at him in this way even more often, would “learn from it, unfortunately he has three games to do it now. It’s not cool for us.”
Finally, Liverpool have made a false start not only on – two points after two games, already four points behind defending champions Manchester City – but also off the pitch: Numerous injuries are currently limiting Klopp’s options, with ex-Stuttgart man Nathaniel Phillips among those starting in central defence against Palace. The absences of Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konaté, Thiago and Diogo Jota are particularly painful. Captain Jordan Henderson, a substitute on Monday, is also struggling.
“We had a really difficult week,” Klopp reported. “It was like there was a witch in the house, seriously. Every day it got someone else for the craziest reasons.”
And now Darwin, who had shown how valuable he could be for Liverpool as a wild card in both the Community Shield (3-1 against ManCity) and the league opener (2-2 at Fulham), is just missing. “We will use the suspension productively – for physical work,” Klopp announced. “Not as a punishment, but to make him stronger. “
