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Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Player Ratings: 8/10 Elliott, Zaha shine; Nunez gets 2

August 16, 2022 2:00 pm
Reading Time: 10 mins read
Jurgen Klopp would be reasonably happy with the business done by Liverpool. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp would be reasonably happy with the business done by Liverpool. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

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A Luis Diaz stunner rescued a point for ten-man Liverpool against Crystal Palace, with Wilfried Zaha shining for the visitors.

There has been a raging debate over Wilfried Zaha’s credentials as a top-draw Premier League footballer, despite playing for Crystal Palace for many years. Since his ill-fated spell at Manchester United, the debate has centred around the Ivory Coast international as to whether or not he would be great in a big club.

With a big performance against Liverpool, where he could have scored more than one goal, Zaha did prove a point, and he might have put himself in the shop window with such a display. Zaha got the opening goal against Liverpool against the run of play, but the Reds had the mentality to rescue a point.

Jurgen Klopp would have been furious with how Zaha opened the scoring, as Eberechi Eze released the Crystal Palace talisman, who broke the offside trap and finished past Alisson Becker. Meanwhile, Liverpool were reduced to ten men, after Darwin Nunez, in his first competitive start for the club, was sent off for a headbutt on Joachim Andersen in the second half.

After falling a man short and trailing by a goal, Liverpool could not find a way through the stubborn Crystal Palace defence. Mohamed Salah had a few chances where he could have scored, but Luis Diaz came up with the magic, netting a sensational equaliser to level things up.

Both teams remain winless after two rounds of fixtures. Liverpool, in particular, will be desperate for their first three points and will have a solid opportunity next Monday when they visit Old Trafford to play Manchester United, considering the Red Devils’ problems. Here are the player ratings from Liverpool’s fortunate draw against Crystal Palace.

Liverpool

Alisson Becker: 6.5/10

A big reason why Liverpool did not concede more goals was their keeper, Alisson. The Brazilian made himself big on two occasions to deny Wilfried Zaha and will be fortunate to have seen the Crystal Palace attacker smash the bar from close range. The winger beat the Liverpool stopper meticulously for the goal, but he made amends later.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6/10

Alexander-Arnold has not had the best of starts to his campaign, and he needs to iron out plenty of things. He was present in the final third, but his passing accuracy was somewhat missing. More importantly, his defensive instability could have cost Liverpool once more, as the right-back failed to track Zaha for a chance that was smashed onto the bar, although that could have been a winner.

Nathaniel Phillips: 5/10

Zaha found the weak link in the Liverpool defensive armour and exploited it thoroughly. Phillips was a mismatch against the Crystal Palace talisman, and the English defender played the winger onside for the opening goal.

Virgil van Dijk: 6/10

Virgil van Dijk was caught off guard for the opener and could not chase down Zaha before the Ivory Coast international stuck the goal. After that, he was alert and able to sniff out any possible threats. There were still a few iffy moments, but nothing that posed a big danger to his goal.

Andy Robertson: 4.5/10

Both Liverpool full-backs have found it difficult to get going this season, and Klopp acknowledged Robertson’s form by taking him off around the hour mark. The Scottish international found no joy dealing with Jordan Ayew or Nathaniel Clyne.

Harvey Elliott: 8/10

Klopp may have been right in not feeling the need to replace Thiago Alcantara with a new signing. Harvey Elliott was one of the best Liverpool players on the pitch, keeping the attack flowing and proving to be a viable threat with a few efforts.

Fabinho: 6.5/10

Fabinho was guilty of not keeping the tabs on Eberechi Eze in the build-up to the Crystal Palace goal. But Fabinho was alert for most parts of the game, more so, after Liverpool went down to ten men, where he was needed to recycle the ball and help keep the possession for his team.

James Milner: 7/10

Milner had a fantastic opportunity in the first minute and should have scored. He played his part in the game and was a presence in midfield. He also got the assist for the stunner by Luis Diaz.

Mohamed Salah: 6.5/10

Salah usually scores from the chances he was afforded against Crystal Palace, and the visitors may feel lucky for the Egyptian’s misses. Not his day to hit the target.

Darwin Nunez: 2/10

Another forward who should consider this was not his day by any means. After missing a few chances to equalise, Nunez found himself in hot water after a headbutt on Joachim Andersen, as the referee had no choice but to show the red card.

Luis Diaz: 8/10

Diaz was an attacking threat and caused many problems for the Crystal Palace defenders. While many questioned his form after the draw with Fulham, the Colombian international answered them with a stunning solo goal to snatch a point for his team.

SUBSTITUTES

Jordan Henderson: 5/10

Henderson’s arrival shored up the midfield and helped Liverpool get through a tough last 30 minutes.

Joe Gomez: 6/10

A knock had kept him out of the starting lineup, yet Klopp felt the need to bring him for Phillips, who did not convince the Liverpool manager. Gomez still had a good game from there and was a sold presence alongside van Dijk.

Kostas Tsimikas: 5/10

Tsimikas replaced Robertson and was equally poor with his crossing, as he heard an earful from Klopp on the sidelines.

Fabio Carvalho: 5/10

Carvalho had a good chance to snatch a winner but put his shot wide. Beyond that, he did not have much say since coming on.

Crystal Palace

Vicente Guaita: 7/10

Crystal Palace needed their goalkeeper to be in good form, and Guaita did not disappoint. Making some decent saves, he kept his side in the contest but took a booking for time wasting.

Joel Ward: 7/10

Vieira decided to play a back three, allowing Ward to enter the team. As a centre-back, he did well and was able to disrupt many Liverpool attacks.

Joachim Andersen: 8/10

Andersen continues to show why he is Crystal Palace’s best centre-back by far. The Dane was robust at the back, marshalling the backline and getting into challenges. He was on Nunez’s back throughout the game and played his role in getting him sent off.

Marc Guehi: 8/10

Like Andersen, Guehi was a solid presence at the back. His reading of the game was immense, and he remained alert to sniffing out danger whenever the threat came. He also looked more assured in a back three.

Nathaniel Clyne: 6.5/10

Clyne was able to get into good spaces and disrupt Robertson’s thinking throughout the game. Even though he was playing as a wing-back to help out the attacking third more, the former Liverpool full-back found himself at the back, helping out his teammates in defence.

Eberechi Eze: 8/10

Eze is slowly becoming the creative hub of this team under Vieira. Another assured performance and this time, he got himself on the assist chart with his brilliant through ball to release Zaha for the opener.

Cheick Doucoure: 6/10

Doucore had a good outing against a side like Liverpool for only his second game in English football. He did provide the brilliant chance for Zaha to probably snatch the winner, which the Ivory Coast international smashed on the bar.

Jeffrey Schlupp: 6/10

Yet another hard-working display from Schlupp, who was tasked more with helping out his defenders and marking the Liverpool attackers, did well eventually.

Trick Mitchell: 7/10

Through this game, Vieira understood the quality of his full-backs while defending. Mitchell was immense with his task, making at least three tackles and interceptions apiece.

Jordan Ayew: 6/10

Ayew was again in the team in place of Olise, and it seemed like Crystal Palace needed such a presence. He was the man the team looked at to give them a respite when they had the ball, and the Ghanaian attacker did well in his role.

Wilfried Zaha: 8/10

A sensational performance from Zaha, who probably showed his critics he remains a big game player. After a sub-par outing against Arsenal, Zaha had a terrific game against Liverpool, getting the opening goal. He should have scored at least two more goals, but Alisson saved one and the Ivory Coast international hit the bar with the other.

SUBSTITUTES

Odsonne Edouard: 5/10

Edouard came on and replaced Ayew in his role. He did quite well, continuing from where the Ghanaian had left off.

Will Hughes: 5/10

Hughes replaced Doucoure and probably looked more efficient than the new signing, particularly with his pressing and control of the area.

Luka Milivojevic: 5.5/10

He replaced Eze but had a very different role to play here. Milivojevic made life difficult for Liverpool, who were applying pressure to find a late winner.

Chris Richards: 5/10

Richards made his Crystal Palace debut by replacing Mitchell and was a good outlet for the last ten minutes plus stoppages.

Michael Olise: N/A

A brief appearance from Olise, who is in need of minutes. But he did not play enough to warrant a rating.

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