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:
RED CARD! Nunez is sent off!
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
57 mins: Elliott and Salah combine to keep the ball alive and Salah crosses it over to the left side of the box. Luis Diaz attempts an overhead kick but sends the effort wide.
Joachim Andersen isn’t happy with Darwin Nunez and shoves him in the back as the striker walks away. Nunez reacts, he turns heads Andersen in the chin.
The referee sees the entire incident and Liverpool are down to 10-men!
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
54 mins: Liverpool’s attacking qualities are also becoming sloppy. Too often the final pass is wide or misses the target with the forwards in the wrong positions.
The Reds are finding it tricky out there but they’re seeing most of the ball. Palace look very dangerous on the counter-attack though.
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
51 mins: Some scrappy defending from Nat Phillips almost sees Palace create another good chance to score but Jordan Ayew’s cross from the right side is blocked by Andy Robertson.
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
48 mins: The referee has a word with Joel Ward about the Crystal Palace players wasting time on throw ins and goal kicks. All the officials have been stricter on this side of the game this year.
Mo Salah feeds the ball into the box for Darwin Nunez, he shifts it onto his left foot and shoots but Ward flings himself in front of the effort and keeps it out!
Second half: Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
Kick off: How will the second half play out at Anfield? Neither manager has made a change at the break and Liverpool restart the match.
They trail by one goal and will come up against a sturdy Crystal Palace defence over the next 45 minutes.
Manchester United could finish in bottom half of Premier League says Neville
Gary Neville believes Manchester United are in “special measures” and that they could finish in the bottom half of the Premier League if they do not address their “horror story” recruitment strategy.
The former United defender was vocal in his criticism of the club’s owners following a humiliating 4-0 loss at Brentford on Saturday.
The defeat left Erik Ten Hag’s side bottom of the table after the Dutchman lost his first competitive game in charge a week earlier at home to Brighton.
Manchester United could finish in bottom half of Premier League – Gary Neville
The former United defender was vocal in his criticism of the club’s owners following a humiliating 4-0 loss at Brentford on Saturday.
HT Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
How important will his opener be at the end of the game?
HT Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
Wilfried Zaha’s opener is the only difference between the two teams at the break. He scored with Crystal Palace’s first effort on goal.
Half-time: Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
45+3 mins: Chance! How has Darwin Nunez not scored here?
Intense pressure from Liverpool to end the half sees Nunez wide open on the left side of the box. Harvey Elliott expertly picks him out but the forward scuffs his effort and knocks it into the far post!
A clear strike and that’s 1-1. Virgil van Dijk tries to rattle the follow up but also mishits it and skews his effort out of play.
Crystal Palace lead at half-time.
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