After admitting he experienced cramp late in the Uruguay game, Darwin Nunez may not start for Liverpool against Everton on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Nunez put on an outstanding performance as Uruguay defeated Brazil for the first time in 22 years, scoring the opening goal and setting up the second for a 2-0 victory.
However, the Liverpool striker left with reservations about his participation in the Merseyside derby, largely as a result of cramping.
“I come to leave everything on the pitch, and today it showed,” he said in an interview with El Observador. “I got a little crowded at the end.”
This means he won’t start, along with the exhausting travel from Uruguay, a lack of rest and training time, and the early kickoff at Anfield.
Following the most recent international break, Jurgen Klopp decided to rest Luis Diaz and Nunez for the same reasons, while starting Alexis MacAllister against Wolves was largely regarded as a mistake.
This will be more challenging versus Everton because of injuries and bans, which could or will prevent Cody Gakpo, Ben Doak, Curtis Jones, and Thiago from playing.
Nunez is not anticipated to be left out, but the manager is more likely to start Diaz on the bench alongside Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota in the attack.
Resting Mac Allister is made more conceivable by the availability of Ryan Gravenberch, who was passed over by the Netherlands for supposed disciplinary grounds.
Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, or Harvey Elliott might fill the two open slots in midfield alongside Dominik Szoboszlai.
Nunez also encountered a little issue with Uruguay last month, as manager Marcelo Bielsa substituted him because of “muscular difficulties.”
Just three days later, the 24-year-old was allowed to in for the final 34 minutes of the 3-1 victory at Wolves.