Liverpool handed Darwin Nunez red card verdict minutes before Southampton goal

Darwin Nunez bagged Liverpool's equaliser and won a penalty for his side but things could have been different

Chris Sutton believes Darwin Nunez was fortunate to remain on the pitch after a careless challenge on Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters. The Uruguayan was booked for the challenge, but it could have ended in a sending off for the forward player, according to the BBC pundit.

VAR checked for a potential red, but the game eventually restarted. The Reds' trailed 1-0 at the break, courtesy of Will Smallbone, who took advantage of a mix-up in the hosts' defence.

Virgil van Dijk looked to have dealt with a throw-in and left the ball for Alisson to collect before Mateus Fernandes pounced ahead of the Brazilian keeper. Smallbone then fired a low shot past Alisson. And pundits Paul Merson and Sutton discussed Nunez's challenge.

Merson remarked: "VAR are looking at this. It's very, very silly what he has done." While Sutton said: "It was such a reckless, daft challenge. Liverpool lucky to have 11 on the pitch."

Nunez then went on to redeem himself, scoring the equaliser for the Reds in the 51st minute. Shortly after, he went on to win a penalty for his team, which was converted by Mohamed Salah.