“Chaos Unfolds: Darwin Núñez Booked After Heated Collision with Jordan Pickford – Here’s Why”
“Darwin Núñez Sees Yellow After Fiery Clash with Jordan Pickford – Here’s What Happened”
Darwin Núñez’s puzzling yellow card has now been clarified after the Liverpool striker was booked by referee Sam Barrott—despite being the one kicked in the shins by Jordan Pickford. Just like their previous meeting, Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby was filled with controversy as Liverpool secured a 1-0 victory over Everton.
Debate rages on over why neither the referee nor VAR deemed James Tarkowski’s reckless, studs-up challenge on Alexis Mac Allister worthy of punishment—especially when pundits like Gary Neville and Duncan Ferguson described it as a potential “leg-breaker.” Meanwhile, Diogo Jota’s decisive goal secured Liverpool’s victory, though Everton manager David Moyes argued it should have been ruled out for offside, citing Luis Díaz’s position beyond the defensive line.
Now, attention has turned to the puzzling decision to book Núñez, who was kicked by Pickford after play had already been stopped for an earlier foul in the same passage of play.
Why Darwin Núñez Was Booked After Clash With Pickford
Despite being on the receiving end of a kick from Jordan Pickford, Darwin Núñez was shown a yellow card for unsporting behavior. The referee deemed his reaction to the incident as excessive, leading to the booking. This controversial decision has sparked debate, especially given other contentious moments in the match.
Despite the frequent criticism of Darwin Núñez for his inconsistency in front of goal, he has always prided himself on being a constant source of action—whether in Liverpool’s favor or not. This unpredictability has earned him the nickname “Captain Chaos,” and true to form, he was at the center of controversy just minutes after coming off the bench at Anfield.
Racing onto a long ball, the 25-year-old found himself in a one-on-one battle with Jordan Pickford, who collided with him while attempting to clear the danger. However, despite being the one fouled, it was Núñez who saw his name taken by the referee. Watch the incident below:
Nunez got a yellow for this
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) April 2, 2025
The incident was never reviewed by VAR because it occurred after the referee had already blown for a foul on Dominik Szoboszlai in Liverpool’s half. Núñez received on-pitch medical treatment before being shown a yellow card once the medical team had finished attending to him.
According to the Premier League website, Núñez was booked due to a “delay” in the match. This suggests the referee deemed his actions as time-wasting, which falls under unsporting behavior. After being legitimately injured by Pickford, Núñez initially landed beyond the touchline but then rolled back onto the pitch—potentially influencing the referee’s decision. Watch the incident below:
Mac Allister dragging Nunez back onto the pitch so the game doesn’t get restarted.
As well as being a brilliant midfielder, Alexis is also an absolute shithouse and something we’ve been missing for years. pic.twitter.com/O5VqMgQgpp
— – (@AnfieldRd96) April 3, 2025
Núñez’s actions certainly contributed to Liverpool running down the clock as they held on to secure a crucial win, handing Everton their first away defeat since David Moyes’ return in January. The result puts Liverpool in a commanding position, needing just four wins from their final eight games to clinch their second Premier League title in five years.