Liverpool booed off the field amid growing fan frustration following draw with Chelsea
The draw with Chelsea at Anfield saw Liverpool move a step closer to guaranteed Champions League qualification — fourth in the table with two rounds left — but another unconvincing performance sparked a frustrated reaction from the crowd.
There were boos at the final whistle to mark growing unrest from Liverpool supporters in a season that has seen the team tamely surrender the title despite spending around $570 million in the transfer market.
There has been speculation about the job of coach Arne Slot, who insists there will be improvements next term.
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Chelsea's Wesley Fofana celebrates after teammate Enzo Fernandez scores their side's first goal of the game. PA Images via Getty Images
"This season they (fans) will have their opinion and it will not change, but if we can have the summer that we are planning to have I am 100% convinced we will be a different team next season," Slot said.
"Different in terms of results, different in how things look."
Liverpool can make certain of a place in the Champions League with a victory at Aston Villa next Friday. But it could find itself in fifth place by the time that game kicks off.
Villa was fifth and would leapfrog Liverpool by beating relegated Burnley on Sunday. The top five automatically qualify for the Champions League and English clubs could get a sixth spot if Villa wins the Europa League and finishes outside the top four.
The draw allowed Chelsea to break its six-game losing streak. Enzo Fernandez's bouncing free kick went in before halftime to equalize after Ryan Gravenberch's early goal.
Liverpool twice went close to a winner in the second half when Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk hit the woodwork.
It was 1-1 at halftime as Enzo Fernandez cancelled out Ryan Gravenberch's early strike for Liverpool.
Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool. Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Gravenberch had Anfield pumping in the sixth minute as the Dutchman unleashed a wicked right-foot shot that had to much pace and direction for goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
But Chelsea showed some mettle by staying in the fight and eventually had the better of the first half.
Fernandez equalised in the 35th minute as his long range free kick was allowed to travel untouched into the back of Liverpool's net.
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili stayed rooted to the spot as he waited for a second Chelsea touch that never came.
Chelsea entered the game riding an awful six-game losing run in the Premier League.
That was their worst stretch in the league since 1993 - when they also lost six straight.
Chelsea's worst losing streak in England's top flight was seven in 1952-53.
Chelsea are on their third manager of the season following the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
Calum McFarlane now has the reins on an interim basis.
Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz missed the game because of a stomach bug.
"He tried everything to be in it," manager Arne Slot said.
"Things got worse and he wasn't able to train with us yesterday and isn't able to be with us today."
Defending champions Liverpool are out of this year's title race.
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