Liverpool concede a draw against Crystal Palace and let Manchester City slip away – L’Équipe

By discovering the calendar this summer, and his first opponents in August, Jürgen Klopp certainly did not expect his team to find themselves twelfth and point to four lengths from Manchester City after the second day. Already forced to drop two points on the lawn of promoted Fulham at the start of the season (2-2), Liverpool proved unable to beat Crystal Palace on Monday evening in their lair (1-1). And when we remember the titanic number of points it took to win the Premier League over the past four years (93, 86, 99, 98), we think that the Reds would have done better not to delay their long-term race for the title. And again, the results of the evening could have been even heavier to defend as they came so close to defeat. Led to the score on the first incursion of the opponents, that of Wilfried Zaha who took advantage of the misalignment of the defense to adjust Alisson (32nd), they ended the meeting at ten after the expulsion of Darwin Nunez. The 23-year-old striker was guilty of bloodshed, or rather of a headbutt struck at Joachim Andersen (57th). Frustrated by his lack of success – he hit the post just before the break -, well guarded by the opposing defense, the new darling of the supporters had a nightmarish first tenure. At Fulham, Nunez had put on the tunic of the savior by signing a sensational entry in the last half hour (a goal and an assist), and he had changed the face of the vice-champions of Europe. On Monday, it was once again on returning from the locker room that the Uruguayan stood out, but showing another side of his personality. Fortunately for him, his partners did not fall apart after his release. They even benefited from all the success that had been lacking for more than an hour to equalise. Thanks to an individual flash of Luis Diaz, the hope of a crazy comeback has pointed the tip of his nose. It took a few centimeters for Mohamed Salah, too little in sight, to capsize Anfield with a half-volley which finally fled the frame (87th). The pharaoh will have to settle for a point and, to console himself, he can remember the two big chances missed by Zaha at the end of the match, including a post. Going back to the calendar, luck would have it that Liverpool finally have the opportunity to finally start their season next Monday, against the only big team they can currently see in their rear view mirror: the red lantern Manchester United.