Liverpool vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after Darwin Nunez red card
The Reds’ search for their first win of the season continues after the Eagles earned a point at Anfield
Darwin Nunez lost his head but fellow South American Luis Diaz ensured 10-man Liverpool did not lose their long unbeaten home record with a brilliant equaliser to secure a 1-1 Premier League draw with Crystal Palace.
Anfield is no stranger to fiery Uruguayans after witnessing the highs and lows of Luis Suarez for three-and-a-half years but the recklessness of their summer signing’s weak headbutt on Joachim Andersen beggared belief.
Frustration had been growing having gone behind to Wilfried Zaha’s 32nd-minute goal against the run of play but the way Nunez to reacted to being provoked by the Palace centre-back was naive at best and idiotic at worst.
The fact the 23-year-old’s act of self-destruction was rescued by Diaz, who beat at least five players in shimmying his way into position to unleash a 25-yard shot past Victor Guaita, four minutes after the red card, will be of no consolation.
Nunez is currently Jurgen Klopp’s only fit striker, with Diogo Jota nursing a thigh injury and Roberto Firmino missing the game as a precaution, and his resulting three-match ban - with arch-rivals Manchester United next up in a week’s time - is likely to be costly.
Klopp’s side already trail leaders Manchester City by four points and with the margin for error in the title race so tight, they cannot afford many more nights like this.
Follow all the reaction from Anfield:
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
44 mins: Chance! Mo Salah makes a run over to the right of the Palace box and receives the ball from Alexander-Arnold. He flicks it into the penalty area and picks out Harvey Elliott who powers a header towards goal.
Guaita keeps it out but spills it and Joachim Andersen has to knock it behind to clear the danger.
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
41 mins: Save! Abdoulaye Doucoure slides a fine through ball up to Wilfried Zaha who makes another quality run into the box off the shoulder of the centre-back.
He checks to the right and lets fly but Alisson is sharply off his line and charges down the effort.
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
38 mins: Robertson shoves Ayew off the ball and wins the ball in what the referee declares is a fair challenge. He passes it up to Milner who whips over a cross trying to pick out Nunez in the box.
The ball swings in towards goal but Guaita comes out and grabs it off the forwards nose.
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
35 mins: What can Liverpool conjure now? They’ve conceded first in their last six Premier League games but haven’t lost any of them.
They’re going to need to stage another comeback tonight.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace (32’, Zaha)⚽️
32 mins: Against the run of play! Crystal Palace take the lead.
Vicente Guaita boots a half-clearance up to Eberechi Eze who brings the ball under control and cuts into the middle of the pitch. He threads his pass in between Nat Phillips and Virgil van Dijk where Wilfried Zaha sprints through into the Liverpool final third.
He carries the ball into the left side of the box before opening up his body and coolly guiding the ball past Alisson into the far bottom corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace
29 mins: Mo Salah has had a couple of chances already but hasn’t taken any. Liverpool are growing frustrated that they haven’t taken some of these chances.
Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace
26 mins: Harvey Elliott has been an energetic force for Liverpool so far. Making runs, putting in tackles, recovering balls. He’s been a big part of the Reds’ consistent attacks.
Nathaniel Clyne is also worth mentioning and has marshalled Luis Diaz and Andy Robertson quite well so far.
Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace
23 mins: Chance! Liverpool are getting closer. They’re sending balls into the box from all angles. Alexander-Arnold chips one over to Robertson who thinks about shooting but is under pressure from Nathaniel Clyne.
He cuts it back towards Darwin Nunez but Jordan Ayew sticks out a foot and manages to clear the danger.
Another attack quickly follows with a piercing pass from Alexander-Arnold to tee up Mo Salah this time. Salah takes the shot quickly but pulls it wide of the near post.
Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace
20 mins: Crystal Palace knock the ball up to Wilfried Zaha who threads the ball through the middle and plays Eberechi Eze in behind the Liverpool lines.
Trent Alexander-Arnold chases him into the box but can’t stop the shot and is rescued by Alisson closing down quickly. The offside flag then goes up so the goal wouldn’t have counted anyway.
Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace
18 mins: Chance! James Milner sends a diagonal ball over the top and picks out Andy Robertson’s darting run inside from the left wing.
Robertson brings the ball down, carries it into the box and shoots but sees his effort block. The ball bounces up and strikes a Crystal Palace hand. There’s a soft appeal for a handball but nothing comes from it.
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