Darwin missed yesterday’s game against Crystal Palace after re-injuring his shoulder earlier this week
There was a genuine concern when Darwin Nez was forced off with a shoulder injury during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Newcastle last Saturday. That concern seemed to be alleviated when the Uruguayan forward was named to the starting lineup for Liverpool’s 5-2 loss to Real Madrid on Tuesday. Nez scored in the game and didn’t appear to be bothered by the knock he received against the Magpies.
It was therefore surprising to discover that the striker was left out of the matchday squad for yesterday’s scoreless draw with Crystal Palace. There had been no hint that he was a question mark for the game, and the cause for his absence, while probably related to the aforementioned shoulder ailment, was unknown.
Manager Jürgen Klopp confirmed the absence of his chaos creator was due to a reaggravation of the injury to his shoulder following the match at Selhurst Park.
While not quite terrifying, it is certainly concerning. When Darwin is not on the field, Liverpool’s already mediocre attacking game appears much more feeble. Any thought of him missing more time at a time when every single point is critical for Liverpool’s chances of finishing in the top four is worrying.
It’s difficult to determine a timetable for Nez’s comeback based just on Klopp’s comments, but his participation in LFC’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday appears to be in doubt. Hopefully, the severity of the setback will be obvious sooner rather than later.
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