Liverpool were forced to settle for a point as they were held to a draw against Crystal Palace on Monday night. The Reds drew 1-1 at Anfield, with Luis Diaz’s strike cancelling out Wilfried Zaha’s first-half opener. It leaves Jurgen Klopp’s side without a win in their opening two league matches of the season.
However, despite the disappointing result, the headlines will still be dominated by Darwin Nunez’s red card. The striker was sent off for headbutting Palace defender Joachim Andersen and will now serve a three-match suspension.
Plenty of national media outlets were in attendance for Liverpool’s disappointing stalemate. Here is a round-up of what they had to say...
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Andy Hunter, via The Guardian .
“Darwin Nunez made his mark on his full Premier League debut at Anfield, though not as Jürgen Klopp had intended. Liverpool’s showpiece summer signing was shown a straight red card for head-butting Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen as Klopp’s side were held to a second successive draw of the fledgling campaign.
“Luis Díaz gave Liverpool hope of overturning Wilfried Zaha’s first-half opener with a spectacular equaliser, scored within minutes of Núñez’s foolish loss of control. But Patrick Vieira’s determined team defended with clear heads and impressive spirit to claim a rare point at Anfield.
“There were more additions to Liverpool’s already extensive injury list before their first home game of the season. Joël Matip joined fellow central defender Ibrahima Konaté on the sidelines with a muscle injury and, with Joe Gomez only fit enough for the bench after a recent problem, Nat Phillips was handed his first Premier League start since May 2021. It was Phillips’s first start alongside Virgil van Dijk and he marked his return by winning two towering headers inside the opening 14 seconds. Roberto Firmino was also absent as Núñez made his first league start following his big-money arrival from Benfica.”
Neil Jones, via Goal .
"Darwin Nunez was sent off on his first Premier League start as Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace at Anfield.
“The Uruguayan was shown a straight red card after shoving his head into Joachim Andersen, the Palace defender, following a clash 12 minutes into the second half.
“Liverpool trailed 1-0 at the time, Wilfried Zaha having given the visitors the lead with a clinical finish from Eberechi Eze’s superb pass after 32 minutes.
“But Jurgen Klopp’s side rallied with 10 men and levelled when Luis Diaz cut inside to lash an unstoppable 25-yard strike home in front of the Kop.
“Liverpool pushed for a winner, but it was Palace who came closest when Zaha hit the post sliding in to meet Odsonne Edouard’s cross.
“The result means Klopp’s men have now failed to win their first two games of the campaign for the first time since 2012-13, and they head to Old Trafford next to face Manchester United.
Henry Winter, via The Times
“It is only two games into the season but already Liverpool find themselves four points behind the Manchester City juggernaut. They lost ground on the champions in the second round of Premier League matches and have lost Darwin Núñez for three games after the striker lost his head and butted Joachim Andersen after 57 minutes.
“Liverpool were trailing to Wilfried Zaha’s excellent strike at the time but Luis Díaz was fired up and scored one of the great Anfield goals in front of the Kop, a long, weaving run infield from the left and a brilliant, curling finish. But Crystal Palace stayed resilient and departed south with an unexpected point.
“Palace’s first-half goal had been so against the run of play it almost felt against the law. It was pure smash and grab. Liverpool had dominated for half an hour, Trent Alexander-Arnold causing chaos in Palace’s back five with his passing, but then came an eight-touch counter that swept the ball from the Anfield Road End to the Kop.”
Sam Wallace, via The Telegraph
“These are early days to talk of the rise and fall of title challenges but at the mid-point of August, Liverpool are already four points behind their great rivals of the era, Manchester City, and contemplating the good and the bad that comes with another fiery Uruguayan leading their attack.
“Darwin Nunez was sent off on his home debut in this engrossing game of attack and counter that saw Jurgen Klopp’s ten men promptly fight-back to take a point and go close to winning. They had all the territory and most of the possession – and in the resistance of Luis Diaz a man who got them a point and very nearly a win.
“Yet this has been more of a stumble to the start of the season for a team so finely-tuned, as the injuries pile up and the opposition sit deep. There will be no Nunez in the team for Monday's visit to Old Trafford, and Klopp will also have to be certain of the fitness of captain Jordan Henderson and his fellow England international Joe Gomez. Both started this game on the bench as they nursed injuries, two more to add to a growing list that had Klopp down to his last three functioning centre-halves.
“For Palace this was another well-chosen tactical plan from Patrick Vieira whose talented young team were comfortable playing with less than 30 per cent possession and sitting low. Their first half goal was scored against the odds by Wilfried Zaha on the counter-attack and they picked away enough at the patience of Liverpool to prompt a bad misjudgement from Nunez. He was given a straight red for thrusting his head into the face of Joachim Andersen.”
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