Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace: stunner Diaz saves a point after Nunez madness

Striker Darwin Nunez lost the lead but fellow South American Luis Diaz ensured that 10-man Liverpool did not lose their long home unbeaten record with a brilliant equalizer to secure a 1-1 Premier League draw against Crystal Palace.

Anfield are no stranger to fiery Uruguayans having witnessed the ups and downs of Luis Suarez for three and a half years, but the recklessness of their summer signing's weak header on Joachim Andersen was unimaginable.< /p>

F365 says: Diaz will have to keep Liverpool in title chase after Nunez foolishness

Frustration had grown after falling behind Wilfried Zaha's 32nd-minute goal against the run of play, but the way Nunez reacted to the Palace centre-back's taunt was naïve at best and at worst idiot.

The fact that the 23-year-old's act of self-destruction was saved by Diaz, who beat at least five players by getting into position to take a shot 25 yards past Victor Guaita four minutes into 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 rivals Manchester United in a week - is likely to be expensive.

Klopp's side are already four points behind leaders Manchester City and with such a tight margin of error in the title chase, they can't afford many more nights like this .

The arrival of Nunez from Benfica for a potential record £85m was meant to be the antidote to games like this, when teams sit deep, fill the area around their box with repair from 18 yards and look to strike on the break. /p>

But the Uruguayan, admittedly still used to his new teammates after just two competitive outings, swelled his lines only in the ninth minute when he flew to the far post after Harvey Elliott, taking Thiago's place , hurt. Alcantara, danced through the defense to see his shot blocked by Andersen.

Another missed chance from Nunez ended the first half as he mis-hit a shot from roughly the same position and saw it bounce off the far post.

But he wasn't the only one wasting chances with James Milner blazing after just 61 seconds and Mohamed Salah stabbing a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold and also heading obediently into Guaita's arms.

With Liverpool's number of shots piling up - just 17 in the first half - and their ball dominance established, they fell victim to a classic counter from their opponents, who had "only enjoyed "only 25% ball possession.

Guitata's hasty clearance after another attack found Eberechi Eze, who dodged Fabinho and played Zaha who had the pace to stay clear of back-tracking Virgil Van Dijk and place a shot at Alisson Becker and at inside the remote station.

It was the eighth time in the last 10 games that they conceded first.

The Liverpool keeper was quickly taken off to deny Zaha after he again broke the defensive line and, as the hosts finished the half strong with an Elliott header saved and Nunez hitting the woodwork, they left themselves a lot to do.

Palace captain Joel Ward, returning to the side to anchor a resolute five-man defence, denied Nunez with body and arm, who was not deemed to be in an abnormal position when he swung. slipped.

But the game ignited in the 57th minute when Nunez was dismissed after grappling Andersen, who pointed an accusing finger at his opponent before shoving the striker in the back - fostering a blood rush from the South American.

Klopp angrily waved him off the pitch as he and his assistant Pep Lijnders quickly reorganized with Salah playing alone in the middle.

And within four minutes they were level thanks to Diaz, who cut from the left and passed five Palace players before curling a right-footed shot past Guaita.

The hosts continued to attack with 10 as they had for nearly an hour with 11 and that left them susceptible to gaps at the back with Alexander-Arnold essentially playing as a winger.

Zaha hit a post and Salah and substitute Fabio Carvalho fired wide shots late and, although Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 21 league games – 78 in front of a full house at Anfield taking into account their lockdown issues – it was two more points lost.