Liverpool’s stuttering start to the Premier League campaign continued with another draw at home to Crystal Palace on Monday night.
A week on from their 2-2 draw at Fulham, a familiar tale was brewing when Liverpool found themselves a goal down once more at half-time against Palace.
Despite dominating the first half – with 17 shots on 75 per cent possession – Liverpool were simply not clinical enough in front of goal, while a brutal counter-attack from Palace was brilliantly converted by Wilfried Zaha.
After the break, Darwin Nunez headbutted Joachim Andersen during an altercation, capping off a poor Anfield debut by seeing red to make his side’s task even tougher.
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Luis Diaz, however, had other ideas, dribbling past a handful of players before curling in a sensational equaliser four minutes later.
The goal lifted Liverpool just as Nunez’s sending off looked to have rocked them, although it was Zaha who went close to putting Palace back ahead when striking the post.
In the end, neither side could find a winner, and already, just two rounds of matches down, Liverpool are four points behind Manchester City. Up next for Jurgen Klopp’s side, Manchester United at Old Trafford next Monday… “It’s a relegation battle!” Sky Sports’ Gary Neville joked after full-time.
Liverpool player ratings
Alisson Becker – Could do little to stop Zaha’s opener but on hand to deny the forward later on in the first half. 6/10
Trent Alexander-Arnold – Found his range early doors with several crosses troubling the Palace back line. 6/10
Nat Phillips – Picked to replace Joel Matip over Joe Gomez, but severely struggled with the pace of the game in the first half. More specifically, Zaha’s pace. Could not prevent the Palace forward from breaking the deadlock, while Zaha almost scored again before the break when once more losing Phillips and forcing a save from Alisson. Replaced by Gomez in the second half. 4/10
Virgil van Dijk – Will not want to watch his attempted shot just before half-time ever again. 6/10
Andrew Robertson – Did not exactly have a poor game but came off for Tsimikas in the second half as Klopp sought a winner despite being down to 10 men. 6/10
Harvey Elliott – Into the starting XI with Thiago out injured, enjoyed a bright start with some sharp missing, and went close with a couple of chances. 6/10
Fabinho – A drab display against Fulham was followed by a sluggish start against Palace. 5/10
James Milner – Started and captained the side with Jordan Henderson on the bench, and fired an early chance over inside a minute. Replaced by Henderson in the second half. 6/10
Mohamed Salah – Troubled Mitchell from the get-go but bar one header he was never able to have a clear-cut chance in the first half. Come the second half, he thread through a perfect pass for Nunez but his teammate could not convert. Almost scored a late winner, but this goes down as a below-par night for the Egyptian. 5/10
Darwin Nunez – A tetchy Klopp said tonight was the night to hand Nunez a first start for Liverpool “because we have no other striker,” but after that awkward pre-match interview, it was clear Nunez would be a target for Alexander-Arnold and Robertson throughout the match. Nunez sent a volley well over early on, and just before half-time he hit the post when unable to connect properly. Spurned a big chance shortly after the break – a sign of the Anfield debut jitters, perhaps? Moments later, he let his team down when losing his cool after being provoked by Andersen. He was schooled, well and truly, reacting when he shouldn’t have. Three-match ban incoming. 2/10
A moment of madness from Darwin Núñez and he's shown a straight red card!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2022pic.twitter.com/YAErzuuUKq
Luis Diaz – Struggled to begin with, some poor passing at times too. And yes, that was written before his second-half stunner which levelled the score for Liverpool just after Nunez saw red. A timely contribution, and then he did the defensive work to stop Zaha in his tracks during what looked like another counter. 7/10
Subs:
Jordan Henderson – Demanded more of his side after coming on and did his best to lift them in their search of a winner. 6/10
Joe Gomez – Came of for Phillips and arguably should have started. Klopp could well be asked why afterwards. 6/10
Kostas Tsimikas – On for Robertson, but few moments of note. 6/10
Fabio Carvalho – On for his home debut late on, almost scored a winner in the 90th minute. 6/10
Crystal Palace player ratings
Vicente Guaita – Spilled Elliott’s header in the first half, could do little to keep out Diaz’s pearler. 6/10
Nathaniel Clyne – Against his former side, Clyne proved for than a match for Diaz early doors, the quietest member of Liverpool’s front three in the first half. Could not stop Diaz, though, with his moment of magic. 6/10
Joel Ward – Back for Palace with Patrick Vieira opting for three centre-backs, and it did the trick with Ward putting in a solid shift. 6/10
Joachim Andersen – After an impressive debut despite the defeat the Arsenal, Andersen’s best play was just before the hour-mark when confronting Nunez. Was booked for the altercation, but he will take that. 7/10
Marc Guehi – Warmed to the task quickly, frustrating Salah on a couple of occasions in the first half, and putting in a tireless shift to help Palace earn a point. 7/10
Tyrick Mitchell – Had the tough task of marking Salah, and though at times that was not always easy, it was a job well done from Mitchell, with Salah unable to score. 6/10
Eberechi Eze – Fed through a perfect ball for Zaha to hand Palace the lead, and on more than one occasion looked dangerous on the counter. 7/10
Cheick Oumar Doucoure – Almost bagged a second-half assist when finding Zaha, who hit the post. 6/10
Jeffrey Schlupp – On a busy night for Palace’s defence, and with their attack dangerous on the counter, Schlupp was solid but quiet overall. 6/10
Wilfried Zaha – Finished off a brutal counter-attack, starting the right side of Phillips and leaving the Liverpool defender chasing his shadow before slotting it past Alisson. A constant threat and hit the post in the second half when Liverpool were pushing for a winner themselves. 8/10
What a 𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 counter-attack! Wilfried Zaha puts Crystal Palace ahead
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2022pic.twitter.com/H9BFDf2Hnc
Jordan Ayew – Quiet night compared to Eze and Zaha, and came off for Edouard in the second half. 5/10
Subs:
Odsonne Edouard – Came on with Palace out to preserve their point. 6/10
Will Hughes, Luka Milivojevic, Chris Richards – A late triple sub from Vieira. n/a
Michael Olise – Final late sub for Palace. n/a
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