By Alex Ridout
The one word that was muttered repeatedly more than any other at Anfield today was static.
That’s what Liverpool have seemingly become.
From the days of the red arrows flying down the wings under Jurgen Klopp, Arne Slot’s side at times could pass as a walking football team.
The Reds faced a struggling Chelsea side at Anfield in a bid to solidify their Champions League qualification on sturdier foundations.
But despite glimpses of such a valuable prize tantalisingly close, the hosts were unable to get the three crucial points that would’ve made all the difference in the race for places in next year’s edition of Europe’s premier competition.
Though the result is unlikely to be the biggest point of conversation from the proceedings against the London side, as Anfield unusually booed, not once but twice.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool is a club know to back managers till the very end, with the most respected icons of the club tending to be the leader on the side-lines rather than the players.
The likes of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Rafa Benitez and Jurgen Klopp, are just some of the names that are seen as godly amongst the Anfield faithful.
So, when boos ring around the stands of the Reds’ famous temple, it becomes quite a big story and is very telling of where the current manager, and club as a whole, is at.
From the football on display the reception shouldn’t be surprising.
As early as the seventh minute, after the Reds got the opener through Ryan Gravenberch, to referee Craig Pawson blowing the whistle for full time, the Anfield support were treated to very little in terms of intense, positive, attacking possession, which has become a common occurrence after scoring this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe only shining light came from Rio Ngumoha, who on so many occasions this campaign, has seemed to be the sole focus of creative intent throughout the whole Liverpool side.
Although there were moments where the 17-year-old perhaps made the wrong decision, he still provided fans with entertainment that was worthy of getting out of your seat.
The same could not be said for the rest of the Liverpool frontline, or midfield for that matter.
Consequently, when Slot made the call to substitute the youngster in the 67th minute, it was met with disgruntled boos from all corners of the stadium.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt has later been revealed by the Dutchman post-match that Ngumoha had felt cramp several minutes before the change, though this was knowledge the crowd obviously didn’t possess when making their feelings known.
With 17-year-old off the pitch the Reds lacked any sort of quick fire intensity in the final third, with the grumbles from the stands getting louder and louder with every misplaced pass.
As the final whilst neared, the once might fortress of Anfield had turned into a sour pit of disappointment and anger.
From the days of the Kop willing the ball into the net when needed under previous manager Klopp, that power and noise of sucking it over the line has changed to groans.
Once, when a Liverpool side needed a goal, the players would raise the intensity and the crowd would match it, virtually creating an inevitable vacuum round the net.
Without that passion and fight on the pitch, all that’s created is an anti-climax to matches as the end of the 90 peters out without a grand finale.
Following an uneventful seven minutes of extra time the Anfield faithful once again made their feelings clear, but this time there was no confusion, no mistake and no misinformation.
Shouts, moans and groans all accompanied the now familiar sound of booing, with the obvious target being the man in the dugout.
For a club that backs their managers more than most, this united noise was a giveaway to the current state of the Liverpool fanbase, especially when the match-going fan also joins the negative noise.
With two games left in the 2025/26 campaign, Slot will most certainly end the campaign at the helm of this once mighty red ship, though if he will be sailing into the next is a question that is definitely up in air, indicated by the opinions of the masses against Chelsea.
Michael Edwards, Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group have some massive decisions to make this summer, the most important of those being the answer to manager situation, as a season similar to this one will once again be unpopular with supporters.
Embed from Getty ImagesFeatured image – Liverpool manager Arne Slot during preseason: Wikimedia Commons
Alex Ridout Sports Journalist 
