Virgil Van Dijk gives sage advice to hothead Darwin Nunez: 'He has to manage himself'

Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk insists Darwin Nunez has the full backing of the squad despite his red-mist moment against Crystal Palace, making life even more difficult for them.

With an injury list running at nine, the last thing manager Jurgen Klopp or the team needed was another absentee.

The 23-year-old summer signing's sending-off in the 1-1 draw at Anfield for headbutting Joachim Andersen following a running battle with the centre-back all-night leaves Klopp currently without a recognised striker.

There is hope Roberto Firmino will have recovered from a problem that forced him to sit it out against Palace to lead the line against Manchester United at Old Trafford next Monday – a match Nunez will miss as he serves a three-match suspension.

But as the summer signing, who arrived from Benfica for a potential club-record £85 million fee, continues to integrate himself into the team, there will be no finger-pointing from his teammates.

"Obviously, he was disappointed and also probably with himself, but it's a learning curve, and obviously, we will always back him," Van Dijk said.

"He's got the backing from us, and he knows it should not happen again, and hopefully, it will be that way.

"He has to control himself, definitely. I think that's a separate thing. He has to manage himself; he has to be knowing that these things can happen, especially in the Premier League.

"It will be a learning curve for him, and hopefully, it will never happen again."

Monday night's draw against Palace marked the second straight match in which the Reds have dropped points, and they are already four behind Manchester City leaders.

Considering the close margins of the title race in recent years, Liverpool cannot afford to drop many more points, but