Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez’s full Premier League debut has ended in disgrace, with the Uruguayan given a straight red card vs Crystal Palace.
Nunez - who could become the club’s most expensive ever player with add-ons - was given his first league start, after impressing off the bench in recent weeks. Jurgen Klopp had opted to start Roberto Firmino in both the Community Shield vs Manchester City and their top-flight opener against Fulham, scoring on both occasions.
But his first start ended in frustration and embarrassment after he was given his marching orders for throwing his head at Palace defender Joachim Andersen. Nunez missed a host of chances in the first half, before being dismissed 12 minutes after the break.
The incident occurred after the two had jostled in the penalty area, with Nunez inexplicably deciding to headbutt the Palace centre-back, leaving referee Paul Tierney no other option but to show the red card. That meant he became just the second Liverpool player to be sent off on his first Premier League appearance at Anfield.
Nunez's dismissal gave Liverpool an even greater challenge, after falling behind to Patrick Vieira's side despite dominating proceedings during the opening 45 minutes. Set up to frustrate their more illustrious opponents, the visitors pounced on the counter when Eberechi Eze expertly found Wilfried Zaha, who slotted home past Alisson in the Reds goal.
And frustrations were growing amongst both the players and supporters, before Luis Diaz equalised in spectacular fashion just four minutes after his strike partner had made his way down the Anfield tunnel.
Perhaps fittingly, Klopp's evening had started with a Nunez annoyance, angrily responding to a question about his involvement from the start. Asked by Sky Sports why he had decided to make the change, he said: We have no other striker.
"I’m really curious that you see the lineup and prepare an interview and ask the questions you ask…but OK. The player scored last week and that’s why he starts.”
Vieira had also warned his players about the threat of the physical former Benfica star, adding: “It’s less mobility than Firmino. He’s not going to come to play between the lines, he will be the main target, running in behind and more physical in the box. But we believe we have what it takes to defend well, but what we must do first is defend the crosses.”
