Liverpool produced perhaps their dullest outing of the season in a goalless snoozefest at Selhurst Park to add to their challenge of qualifying for the upcoming Champions League football season.
Jurgen Klopp can be pleased to see his team not lose all points after a confidence-shattering loss to Real Madrid earlier in the week, although the lack of urgency and intent in Darwin Nunez’s absence was apparent.
Liverpool in the Premier League this season when Darwin Núñez starts:
Shots/game – 17.7xG/game – 1.93% wins – 54% Pts/game – 1.77
Núñez does not start:
Shots/game – 14.6xG/game – 1.60% win rate – 30% Pts/game – 1.30#LFC
— Michael Reid (@michael_reid11) February 25, 2023
Things certainly weren’t helped by the back line’s desire to test the limits of what they could get away with when it came to careless mistakes, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s hospital backpass to Alisson Becker the most inexplicable of all.
Alisson Becker (7): A reliable pair of hands for Liverpool and seemingly, barring the exceptions of Stefan Bajcetic and Darwin Nunez, perhaps the Reds’ only consistent option this season. He was alert to the dangers created by careless mistakes from his back line.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (2): Repeated defensive errors by the fullback that gave Jean-Philippe Mateta the opportunity to score with a tremendous pass back. He came close to providing the opening goal with a free kick strangely missed by Jordan Henderson.
Joel Matip (3): Unconvincing and also lucky not to be penalized by Crystal Palace.
Virgil van Dijk (5): Not as problematic as his fellow Liverpool defenders.
Andy Robertson (3): Didn’t feel particularly invested in the proceedings, nor in creating chances or adding to the defensive back-line problems.
Jordan Henderson (3): A limited performance from the captain who strangely saved an Alexander-Arnold free-kick that seemed destined for the back of the net, much to the chagrin of his teammate.
Naby Keita (2): Couldn’t offer much of a physical presence in midfield and rightly got hooked at halftime. Disappointing from a player whose time at Anfield looks increasingly high.
James Milner (5): Liverpool’s best midfielder of the day. The former Manchester City star dropped back to support the defence. Problematic when a 37-year-old shows more drive than the younger midfielders around him.
Cody Gakpo (4): He worked hard trying to find a starter, but he was part of a front line that struggled to make a dent. He should have scored when Mo Salah put him up.
Diogo Jota (4): Started very brilliantly in the first half, getting closer to the first goal with a clever high pass from Matip in the area. He backed off as the game progressed.
Mo Salah (6): He wasn’t particularly devastating in the first 45 minutes, but he got more involved in the second half, hitting the crossbar and almost setting up a goal with a beautiful ball for Cody Gakpo.
READ MORE: ‘Does nothing’: Liverpool legend demands Klopp remove ‘liability’ star on wild Twitter
READ MORE: Darwin Nunez’s return from injury timeline shared as frustrating issue returns
Harvey Elliott (5): Made the difference when he was traded for Naby Keita at the halftime break, though the impact faded as the second half progressed.
Fabinho (3): Liverpool looked a bit more solid in midfield with the introduction of the Brazilian.
Bobby Firmino (3): It didn’t really influence the proceedings.
Stefan Bajcetic (N/A): Brought in late.
Let us know your thoughts and ratings in the comments below!
EOTK Insider Opinion: Manchester United Qatari takeover apologists have sunk to new depths as Liverpool dodge a bullet
