Chris Sutton says 24-year-old Liverpool player left him completely baffled vs Man United

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Liverpool were left wondering just how they managed to lose against Manchester United on Sunday.

The Reds seemingly had the game exactly where they wanted it at 2-1 up in the second-half. But having failed to put United to bed, they were stung late on in regulation and then extra-time.

Few played well for Liverpool, although the criticism the likes of Cody Gakpo in particular have taken has perhaps been unwarranted.

One of those who didn’t have his best game was Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan was directly at fault for Marcus Rashford’s extra-time equaliser, as he slammed a strange cross-field ball straight into Scott McTominay, who fed Rashford for a simple finish.

And speaking on The Daily Mail’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ podcast, pundit Chris Sutton says he still can’t work out who Nunez was aiming for.

“It just didn’t click, Salah looked off it. Of course there are reasons for that, because he’s just coming back from injury,” Sutton explained. “I thought some of the substitutions, Gakpo came on and looked like he didn’t have his boots on the right feet. Darwin, we love Darwin but the pass he was making when Rashford eventually scored. I kept looking and thinking what did he see there, who was he trying to pass that to? And I still don’t know, I don’t think he does.”

Nunez takes the blame

The way it went for Liverpool on Sunday, you get the feeling that if Nunez hadn’t have made the mistake he did, then someone else would have.

It was just one of those days for the Reds. Even before the 24-year-old’s errant pass, they hadn’t really felt likely to hold onto their slender lead.

In truth, just about every one of Liverpool’s players looked out on their feet tired. With little attacking threat, they were already clinging on.

Having said that though, you simply can’t defend Nunez here. Having got that go-ahead goal from Harvey Elliott, they needed to just keep things tight. Don’t give United any encouragement.

There was no need to play the pass that he did. An in-field pass in your own defensive third is always a risk, whatever stage of the game. From an early age you’re taught to avoid it.

After what happened at Old Trafford, Darwin will be wishing he’d listened to that advice.

From there-on-in, it felt like Liverpool were on the back foot. The Rashford goal had given United’s crowd all the hope they needed. The place was a bear-pit.

In that respect, it really was a turning point in the game, as inevitable as it felt. Had Nunez kept his head and held onto the ball, or just cleared it, maybe things would have been different. We’ll never be able to explain why he did what he did, but that’s Darwin.