Darwin Núñez made his mark on his full Premier League debut at Anfield, though not as Jürgen Klopp had intended. Liverpool’s showpiece summer signing was shown a straight red card for head-butting Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen as Klopp’s side were held to a second successive draw of the fledgling campaign.
Luis Díaz gave Liverpool hope of overturning Wilfried Zaha’s first-half opener with a spectacular equaliser, scored within minutes of Núñez’s foolish loss of control. But Patrick Vieira’s determined team defended with clear heads and impressive spirit to claim a rare point at Anfield.
There were more additions to Liverpool’s already extensive injury list before their first home game of the season. Joël Matip joined fellow central defender Ibrahima Konaté on the sidelines with a muscle injury and, with Joe Gomez only fit enough for the bench after a recent problem, Nat Phillips was handed his first Premier League start since May 2021. It was Phillips’s first start alongside Virgil van Dijk and he marked his return by winning two towering headers inside the opening 14 seconds. Roberto Firmino was also absent as Núñez made his first league start following his big-money arrival from Benfica.
Liverpool’s performance at Fulham improved immeasurably following Núñez’s introduction and they started with an intensity and focus that was absent in the first half at Craven Cottage. The hosts should have led after a minute when Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita punched a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross out to James Milner while under pressure from Liverpool’s new centre-forward. Milner reacted sharply but skied a clear opening over Guaita’s goal. The keeper needed treatment having landed awkwardly from his clearance.
Núñez also missed a decent opportunity after Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold stretched Palace with long, pinpoint passes. Andersen managed to block Harvey Elliott’s goalbound drive, presenting Alexander-Arnold with another chance to cross from the right. He found Núñez unmarked at the back post but, perhaps surprised by Palace’s failure to head clear, the striker steered an awkward volley high and wide.
Liverpool were understandably keen to utilise the height of their new forward addition and swept crosses in behind the Palace defender regularly, but there was variety to their early dominance. Alexander-Arnold found Andy Robertson sprinting into the visitors’ penalty area, Díaz had a shot deflected into the arms of Guaita and Mohamed Salah prodded wide from yet another inviting delivery from Liverpool’s right-back. The connection between Alexander-Arnold and Salah ensured an exhausting night for Tyrick Mitchell at left wing-back while Núñez also displayed an immediate and encouraging rapport with the Egypt international.