Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez refused to shake the hand of Toulouse match-winner Frank Magri at the full-time whistle last night.
Nunez came on for a 15-minute cameo during Liverpool’s disappointing performance in the Europa League last night. Although it was only a short appearance, Darwin still managed to court some controversy.
The Uruguayan at least appeared keen to make something happen, and picked up a booking following an altercation after he was fouled.
Perhaps what the cameras for TNT Sports picked up at full-time was a continuation of that. With the lens focused on Magri, he gives Mohamed Salah a hand-clap, before Nunez comes along. Although the Toulouse striker extends his hand to Liverpool’s No.9, Darwin is having none of it. The 24-year-old throws his arm up and out of the way as he turns away from Magri.
Some players wouldn’t have been happy with this show of petulance, but having just won the game for his team, the Cameroonian doesn’t look bothered. Instead, he looks back at Nunez with a big beaming smile and a chuckle.
After shaking hands with the match officials, Magri turns with a smile still tugging at his lips. At least someone had a good night.
Nunez shows some anger
Of course, we don’t condone the refusal of a post-match handshake. Whatever happened during the game, it should be finished once the whistle blows.
Nevertheless, on this occasion it was welcome to see a Liverpool player showing some kind of passion last night.
For much of the evening, those in red went from A to B without looking like they wanted to be there at all. Just like at Luton Town on Sunday, Liverpool player’s looked like they though they simply had to turn up to win.
And like Luton, Toulouse had other ideas. For them this was their biggest night in a long, long time. Liverpool had to match that energy and, frankly, they ended up being nowhere near.
There were a couple of exceptions though, of which Nunez was certainly one.
The Uruguay international’s temperament can at times get him trouble on the pitch, and it looked like it might do again at one stage last night. But at least he added some much-needed energy.
The loss clearly affected Darwin, and that was encouraging to see. As seen by his often exuberant bench celebrations, he lives and breathes what’s going on on the pitch whether he himself is on it or not.
He could maybe have shown this in a better way, but hopefully it means Nunez will be raring to put things right against Brentford on Sunday.
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