Liverpool held to 1-1 home draw by Palace as Nunez sees red

Liverpool dominated the opening half but it was Zaha who broke the deadlock, stunning the home crowd with a brilliant finish to a counter-attack in the 32nd minute.

Luis Diaz of Liverpool celebrates with Fabinho after scoring a stunning solo goal. | Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz scored a splendid solo goal to cancel out Wilfried Zaha’s opener for Crystal Palace as they drew 1-1 in the Premier League at Anfield on Monday, with Reds striker Darwin Nunez sent off on his home debut.

Liverpool dominated the opening half but it was Zaha who broke the deadlock, stunning the home crowd with a brilliant finish to a counter-attack in the 32nd minute.

It marked the sixth league game in a row in which Liverpool had conceded the first goal and things went from bad to worse in the second half when new Uruguayan signing Nunez got a straight red card for an apparent head-butt on Joachim Andersen.

The sending off inspired Luis Diaz to grab the game by the scruff on the neck in the 61st minute as the Colombian cut in from the left beat several players and curled the ball beyond the despairing dive of Vicente Guaita to put the hosts level.

Liverpool continued to dominate and went close to taking the lead on a number of occasions but Palace held firm to claim its first point of the new campaign, with the home side now having drawn twice in their opening two games.

Klopp proud of Liverpool for keeping up intensity after Nunez red card

Juergen Klopp said he is proud of Liverpool for fighting back to secure a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday despite being reduced to 10 men after Darwin Nunez was sent off.

Forward Luis Diaz cancelled out Wilfried Zaha’s opener for Palace. Nunez was red carded for a head-butt on his home debut.

“I told the boys after the game I’m proud,” Klopp told reporters.

“I thought the start (of the second half) was positive again and then the red card happened. But obviously the best possible reaction from (Diaz) then -- worldie, wonderful goal.

“And from that moment on it was a special game,” he said, adding that he was pleased with how much pressure they put Palace under with 10 men.

Nunez was shown a straight red card in the 57th minute for his reaction to a shove from Palace defender Joachim Andersen, and Klopp said the Uruguayan international needed to learn from his mistake, which will likely result in a three-match ban.

“A little provocation here and there - and definitely the wrong reaction. A clear red card, I cannot deny that. He will learn from that,” Klopp said.

“Unfortunately, he has now a few games’ time to do so.

“Andersen wanted that, I would say, and he got it. But he made a mistake, Darwin, so of course we will talk about it.”

Liverpool, which is 12th after drawing their first two games, next travels to Old Trafford to face bottom side Manchester United.