Boos at Anfield again: what has happened to Arne Slot's Liverpool?
Liverpool fans booed their own players for the second time in a fortnight at Anfield on Saturday afternoon as a 1-1 draw with Chelsea extended a winless Premier League run to six. The result, in their last home match of the season, has left Arne Slot's side clinging to a Champions League spot they had been expected to defend with comfort.
In that six-match run Slot's team have collected only four of a possible 18 points and have scored just once at home. "Hard to accept the recent results," Slot said afterwards. "There are stretches where we have to be much better." The most uncomfortable question is how a side that won 14 of their first 16 league matches under the Dutch coach has lost its identity so quickly.
The system that brought Slot's appointment success last season relied on aggressive vertical passes through a striker-led shape. Mohamed Salah's involvement has fallen to 18% of possessions in this stretch and the midfield triangle expected to press has been rotated inconsistently between Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold. "We are trying to control without obvious risk, and we are losing goals while we win control," Slot conceded.
Chelsea took the lead in the 14th minute when Cole Palmer drove an 18-yard shot into the bottom-right corner. Goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, deputising for the injured Alisson Becker, dived but could not reach the ball. Liverpool created two clear chances in the first half, with Cody Gakpo striking the post in the 39th minute. Salah's 67th-minute attempt was tipped wide by Robert Sánchez.
Darwin Núñez's 78th-minute header from a corner restored parity and briefly the atmosphere. But Liverpool could not pile pressure on the Chelsea goal in the final ten minutes despite the crowd's urging. When the whistle blew, sections of Anfield drowned out the polite applause with sustained jeers.
Captain Virgil van Dijk said afterwards: "I understand the disappointment of our supporters. We are the ones on the pitch, so we take it on ourselves." The boos on the day were the third successive home occasion they have rung out, after the Manchester United and Brentford matches. As recently as the spring of 2024 this section provided a wall of vocal support.
Liverpool sit third in the Premier League, but the gap to fourth-placed Manchester City has shrunk to four points, and to fifth-placed Newcastle to just five. Their three remaining fixtures are Aston Villa (away), West Ham (home) and Crystal Palace (away). To remain in the Champions League places Slot will likely need at least two wins.
Behind the scenes, transfer policy has become a focal point of discontent. Two of three winter signings have been intermittent starters, and summer arrival Federico Chiesa has not held his form. Disagreements between sporting director Richard Hughes and the coaching staff over midfield purchases were briefed to the press at mid-season. Hughes was at Anfield on Friday but declined to comment.
Fenway Sports Group has remained silent. Sources at the club, however, say Slot's contract runs through next season and that a managerial change is not under consideration at this point. The Dutchman said only weeks ago: "I signed to leave this club in a better place. I have not done that yet."
Liverpool finish their season at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace on Monday 18 May. Slot will try to sell that fixture to supporters as a chance for a single redemptive afternoon. "How a season ends matters as much as how it starts, perhaps more," he said. "We want to repair the end of this season with our fans."