"Get up and continue to show the kind of player he is" - Liverpool legend offers advice to Darwin Nunez following Uruguay ban
Liverpool and Uruguay legend Luis Suarez has offered advice to his compatriot Darwin Nunez following his ban from the Uruguay national team. The Reds' striker received a ban for his part in a melee during the Copa America semi-final against Colombia earlier this summer.
Uruguay international Nunez led the line for his country at the 2024 Copa America, while Inter Miami ace Luis Suarez had to be content with a place on the bench. The 25-year-old scored two goals in six appearances in the tournament before his country crashed out at the semi-final stage.
Luis Suarez spoke with the media about his teammate, who was handed a five-game ban by CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football. He advised the striker to show mental fortitude to bounce back from the setback.
"I already spoke with Darwin when he was sanctioned in England. Sometimes people enjoy it more when you are on the ground and fall, but people feel more pain when you get back up," Suarez said (via GOAL).
"And that is what he has to do: get up and continue to show the kind of player he is. That is where you see the great players and the mental strength he has to have to show those people that they like to see him on the ground."
Following the defeat to Colombia, some Colombian fans made moves to assault the families of the Uruguayan players in the stands. A number of the players, including Darwin Nunez, made their way into the stands, and the Liverpool man came to blows with some fans.
Luis Suarez is likely to lead the line for Marcelo Bielsa's side when they face Paraguay on Friday, September 6. The legendary striker has announced that the fixture will be his last game for the Uruguay national team.
Liverpool star suffers injury on international duty
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has picked up a muscle injury while on duty with the Argentina national team. The former Brighton & Hove Albion man started and scored against Chile in a 3-0 win for his country, but came off injured in the 79th minute.
Mac Allister opened the scoring for La Albiceleste with a crisp strike from inside the box before coming off with muscle discomfort. He was replaced by Paulo Dybala for the remainder of the match, and is a doubt for Argentina's next encounter.
The 25-year-old has been a key player for Arne Slot's Liverpool side as they have made an unblemished start to the 2024-25 season. His absence will be a major worry for the manager, seeing as he has featured in all three league games this term.