Jamie Carragher has cited a big build-up of injuries as one of the reasons Liverpool failed to beat Crystal Palace - with attacking options depleted to try and change the game.
The Reds came from behind to draw 1-1 at Anfield thanks to a stunning strike from Luis Diaz but the game was overshadowed by a red card for Darwin Nunez following a clash with Joachim Andersen. Jurgen Klopp was forced to make multiple changes from the side that drew at Fulham on the opening weekend, with the Liverpool manager joking that a ‘witch’ must have been at the AXA Training Centre throughout the week.
Thiago suffered a hamstring strain in that draw at Craven Cottage and is likely to be out for at least a month, while concerns over Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino in training restricted the German manager further. It meant that Nat Phillips started in defence and James Milner in midfield, but most importantly, once Nunez saw red there were no clear options off the bench to come on.
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And former Liverpool defender Carragher cited the growing injury list as one reason as to why Klopp couldn’t change the game after Nunez’s red, but added that Klopp’s side would have won if it weren't for the Uruguayan’s dismissal.
“Missing Thiago is a huge loss, you can’t really replace him,” Carragher said on Monday Night Football . “Where the injuries really hurt Liverpool was they couldn’t bring in an attacking player from the bench.
“Firmino, Jota, someone when you need a goal - that’s a problem. They’ve ended up with Nat Phillips at centre-back so they’ve had injuries in one position, three centre-backs are out, the problems they had in one position - Phillips found it tough tonight.
“But Liverpool had a team on the pitch to beat Crystal Palace and I think if Nunez stays on the pitch they go on and win that game.”
While the dismissal of Nunez could not have been accounted for, simultaneous injuries to the likes of Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino have called into question the club’s decision to offload Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi so swiftly this summer. The former Benfica man will be unavailable for three games - including next Monday’s trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United.
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