Darwin Nunez sends message to Liverpool icon in first post since deleting Instagram images

Darwin Nunez, who recently scrubbed his Instagram of all images related to Liverpool, has broken his social media silence with a nod to Anfield icon Luis Suarez.

The forward's sudden clean-up on social media after the Reds' 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday had ignited conversations about his future at Merseyside.

However, his first online interaction since then saw him responding to a post by Suarez - a legendary former Liverpool striker - who commemorated scoring his 500th career goal on Monday night. Nunez commented: 'Idolo (idol)' accompanied by heart-eyed and bicep-flexing emojis.

Suarez had taken to social media to celebrate his latest achievement, having scored a hat-trick for Inter Miami in their 6-2 drubbing of the New York Red Bulls. The Uruguayan striker posted: "500 goals in clubs, incredible. Thank you Nacional, Groningen, Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, Atletico [Madrid], Gremio, Inter Miami. And thanks to all of you for the support."

Nunez, who linked up with Suarez as part of Uruguay's attack during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, had revised his Instagram profile following Sunday's win against Spurs, during which he came off the bench for about 15 minutes including stoppage time.

The striker also blocked a number of Liverpool fan accounts on Twitter on Sunday evening with the actions believed to be in response to online abuse after a disappointing few weeks for Jurgen Klopp's side generally.

Nunez's drop-off in form has coincided with Liverpool's title bid falling apart. The 24-year-old hasn't scored for six games in the Premier League and has recently been dropped by Jurgen Klopp.

The striker's compatriot Suarez rarely went a prolonged period for Liverpool without scoring and netted 133 of his 500 career goals for the Reds during a three-and-a-half-year period after a January 2011 switch from Ajax. He joined Barcelona in a deal worth around £75m in the summer of 2014.