Boos, no intensity and no identity - what is Slot's Liverpool?

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Rio Ngumoha was replaced in the 67th minute by Alexander Isak

Liverpool reporter, AtAnfieldPublished5 hours agoIf Arne Slot has not realised already, then he needs to realise very quickly that the Anfield crowd demands energy and a certain intensity from its side.

Far too often at home this season, Liverpool have lacked a spark - something that the crowd can feed off - and the ability to kill the opposition off when they take the lead.

When they went in front early against a Chelsea side who had lost their last six Premier League games, Slot's side should have used that as the moment to dominate the match and secure an important win.

Instead, they allowed Calum McFarlane's out-of-form side a way back into the game.

"The adjustment we made at half-time helped us be the more dominant team in the second half. We were twice close," claimed Slot.

"So it is not fair to me to say I ever tell my players to back off and not press. If it did look like that, it was never the intention."

Enzo Fernandez's equaliser for Chelsea means Liverpool have now dropped nine points from winning positions in Premier League home games this season, their most at Anfield since 2015-16, when Jurgen Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers as the manager.

"Our identity is intensity" was the phrase coined by Pep Lijnders when he was Liverpool's assistant manager under Klopp.

Slot's brief was always to do things his own way and never to try be like Klopp, but his side have lacked any identity this season and have next to no intensity.

"I thought Liverpool actually started quite well, got the goal, and then from there Chelsea were the better team. They caused Liverpool big problems, especially Marc Cucurella running behind," said Wayne Rooney on Match of the Day.

"The crowd were obviously a bit edgy, which you very rarely get from Liverpool fans. It comes from not having the season they hoped for, and after spending a lot of money."

Not for the first time this season, there were loud boos at full-time even though Liverpool had not lost the game. Discontent online is one thing, but it is becoming clearer that even the match-going fans are getting frustrated.

"That's probably got something to do with us not winning," Slot told TNT Sports. "It completely makes sense people are disappointed if Liverpool don't win."

Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch added: "To be honest, we need them behind us. OK, we didn't win, but I don't really think we deserved this [reaction].

"The fans have to be behind us for the full 90 minutes because when they were behind us in the second half, we were pressing really well. We need them. Hopefully they wouldn't do it again in the next two games."

Asked later in his post-match news conference how the boos felt, Slot struggled to find the right words in English but said: "I would love to show them [the fans] something else, but at this moment we are not able to.

"We are able to be a dominant team and have more of the ball and I want to give them much more to be positive about and happy about, and I am 100% sure the team wants the same."

Boos at Anfield as Liverpool draw with Chelsea

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Chelsea end winless run with draw away at Liverpool

The boos in the 67th minute when Slot took off Rio Ngumoha - who offered Liverpool's biggest threat - were arguably louder than the jeers at full-time.

Slot clarified later that the 17-year-old had cramp.

"It [having the boos] makes complete sense if you take a player off that is playing well, that assisted. People don't expect you to take that player off and it wasn't my intention to do so," said Slot.

"He is a good player, but I don't think he is at a level yet to play at 50 or 60% to make the difference. I knew the moment his number went up that would be the reaction."

Federico Chiesa was introduced off the bench in the 77th minute - earlier than he often has been this season - but offered no more than the man he replaced, Cody Gakpo.

The Italian has a song to remember with the Anfield faithful but will almost certainly move on this summer.

It will be a summer where further change is necessary too. The need for that was clear to see for sporting director Richard Hughes, who was also at Anfield.

Liverpool's hierarchy will know that integral to any transition will be ensuring the side can start playing a brand of football that the fans can enjoy.

"I am 100% convinced we will be a different team next season if we can have the summer we want," insisted Slot.

They were words spoken with the confidence of a man who believes he will still be the Liverpool manager come August.

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