Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has revealed the personal advice he received from Uruguay teammate Luis Suarez after a poor start to his Premier League career.

Nunez was given his marching orders just two games into his Premier League career for a brutal headbutt on Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen. The red card saw Nunez miss out on the following three league games amid his indifferent start to life with the Reds.

Former Liverpool star Suarez suggested that the striker's treatment in the top flight of English football could only get worse. Speaking in August, the veteran striker said: "At his age, already being at Liverpool, it is to applaud him. He has to enjoy this stage, continue to give him, continue learning from what happened to him the other day.

"From now on they [defenders] are going to look for you two-three times more. This is coming from an idiot that was wrong and had a bad time, but falling down and getting up again made me stronger. Don't give them more chances, it's going to be worse."

Recalling the chat, Nunez said: "It was a good thing [Suarez's advice] because not many bother to pick up the phone and send you a message, I think his gesture was very important to me. Luis is a benchmark, an idol around the world.

"I'm just starting out, I'm young, and he knows all these things because he's even played in the Premier League with Liverpool.

"Luis told me that these things in the Premier League, are going to happen in all the games, that they are going to come looking for me, that they are going to hit me, and that I must become strong, and I must not repeat the s*** he sent me. 'Listen to an idiot like me,' he told me. I am very grateful for that message and the love he has for me."