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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Daniel Orme

Darwin Nunez's Kylian Mbappe celebration toward Arsenal fans backfires after 16 minutes

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez 's celebrations very quickly backfired against Arsenal, having emulated PSG striker Kylian Mbappe for his goal at the Emirates Stadium.

The big money forward had not found the net in his last three Premier League appearances - a run stretching back to the opening day of the campaign - ahead of the trip to North London.

With Jurgen Klopp ’s men having fallen behind to Gabriel Martinelli ’s quickfire opener, Nunez was on hand to haul his side level as he fired home Luis Diaz ’s excellent cross for what was his second Premier League goal of the campaign.

It was also just his third goal in all competitions, with Nunez having also found the net in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City back in July.

There will no doubt have been a huge sense of relief for the Uruguayan with him having not quite lived up to his billing since his record summer switch from Benfica. And in celebration he emulated PSG star Mbappe to toast his strike at the Emirates Stadium.

Wheeling away to celebrate, he then turned to the Arsenal faithful and brought his fists to his face as if to mimic a crying baby. Of course, the celebration has been regularly used by Frenchman Mbappe - first showing the world in 2019.

Darwin Nunez celebrates his goal against Arsenal (Getty Images)
Nunez's celebration was notable similar to Kylian Mbappe's (Getty Images)

Who was your man-of-the-match in Arsenal's clash with Liverpool? Share your thoughts in the comments below

At the time, it was speculated that it was a message towards his manager having been left on the bench in a Champions League clash against Club Brugge - or indeed was an attempt to taunt Marseille supporters.

Instead, Mbappe confirmed that it was an inside joke between him and his friends. Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “Many ask me the reason for my celebration. It's just a little private anecdote from last night with 2 friends.

“And not any valve against OM or a response to recent criticism... THIS IS PARIS.”

Of course, it remains to be seen for what specific reason Nunez elected to use the celebration but he was very quickly made to regret poking fun at the Gunners.

Only 16 minutes after Liverpool had managed to equalise, the hosts found themselves in front yet again - Martinelli teeing up Bukayo Saka in the closing moments of the first-half. It was the England starlet’s second goal of the campaign having also been on the scoresheet against Manchester United despite the Gunners having departed Old Trafford on the end of a 3-1 defeat.

Liverpool did manage to haul themselves level after the break though as Nunez's attacking colleague Robert Firmino struck just minutes after the break - the Brazilian replacing Diaz in the first-half. His celebration though was slightly more withdrawn compared to Nunez.

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