Crystal Palace defender, Joachim Andersen has revealed that he was subjected to death threats and a stream of “3-400” vile online messages after the headbutt incident which resulted in Darwin Nunez seeing red in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.
Nunez has faced plenty of criticism for his actions, with even Jurgen Klopp admitting that a big-money signing had made a serious “mistake”, but Reds supporters from around the world opted to take their frustration out on Andersen at the final whistle, rather than point a finger of blame at their own player.
Andersen took to social media in the aftermath of a heated encounter on Merseyside to reveal the extent of abuse that he was subjected to, with his family dragged into a murky debate by online trolls.
He said on Instagram: “Got maybe 3-400 of these messages last night. I understand you support a team but have respect and stop act tough online.”
Andersen posted a number of screenshots that included messages such as “I will kill you” before adding: “Hope Instagram and the Premier League do something about this.”
After seeing a straight red, the first for violent conduct during Klopp’s reign at Liverpool, Nunez is set to serve a three-match ban.
“The whole game I sat really close to him, I annoyed him a lot and did well against him. I think that’s why he was angry with me, he said
“He headbutted me, the first one, at a cross, and I told him he shouldn’t do that. I was angry with him. Then he did it again which is, for me, really stupid, so it’s a clear red card.”
Klopp has vowed to speak with a summer signing about his behaviour, while Reds defender Virgil van Dijk accepts that a Premier League new boy needs to learn quickly how to handle the demands of life in England.
The Dutch defender has said: “He has to control himself, definitely.
“Obviously he was disappointed and also probably with himself. I think that’s a separate thing, he has to manage himself, he has to be knowing that these things can happen, especially in the Premier League.”
