LFC Toronto Match Review: Liverpool FC 1-1 Crystal Palace

Lucky escape?

One might be tempted to summarise Liverpool as such for their first home league game of the new campaign.

But there is a saying that you make your own luck in life. And in this 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, the Reds cannot be accused of having been timid in creating chances. 

However, it turned out to be one of those twilight zone games in which despite all the chances created and a near 75% possession, more clinical finishing was what was actually needed to scoop the 3 points. 

Uncharacteristically, the Reds have now drawn their first 2 matches of the new season as Crystal Palace implemented the perceived playbook on how to stop Liverpool at Anfield. 

A very well-organized Eagles side, more intent on rigidly defending every Reds’ in-road and then trying its luck on the occasional counter-attack. So much so that during the first half, Liverpool had to resort to the direct Route One with the defenders lobbing the ball to the forward line on several occasions. 

But in Wilfried Zaha, Palace has one of the most effective players to execute those dreaded counter-attacking. With Liverpool relentlessly knocking at the door of the Londoners since kick-off, he got his break in the 32nd minute, totally against the run of play.

Palace keeper Vicente Guaita cleared a back pass to his left midfielder Eberechi Eze who then passed to the Palace striker. Receiving the ball just outside the centre circle, Zaha bolted away from Nat Phillips and clinically slotted the ball past Alisson Becker as a big chunk of the backtracking Liverpool players were still in Palace’s half. 

This goal stunned the Anfield crowd which until then, had been quite vocal in its support and you could see the effect on the Liverpool players who became more subdued for the rest of the first half.

Murphy’s Law seems to have taken a liking for Liverpool not only in the treatment room of the AXA Training Centre which is now practically at full capacity but on the pitch as well. 

The much-anticipated home debut of new signing Darwin Nunez morphed into a nightmare as the Uruguayan lost his rag in the 57th minute, headbutting Palace defender Joachim Andersen. We can only hope that the 23-year old will learn from this straight red card as he becomes acquainted with the “subtleties” of the English Premier League.

Down to 10 men, the sense of urgency on the men in red had instantly been cranked up. And the payoff finally came 4 minutes later. 

After receiving the ball on the left wing from James Milner, Luis Diaz drifted inside and ghosted past 4 Palace players before latching a fierce shot just outside the D. That was a sublime strike worthy of the Man of the Match award to the Columbian and a strong contender for the goal of the month by the same token. 

Throughout the game, the Liverpool Number 23 had in fact worked his socks off like no other. His tenacity had landed him in several one-on-one battles with the Palace players and he richly deserved to have his name on the score sheet. In other words, Diaz had created his own luck.

Mike Chung
YNWA