Liverpool have been booed off the pitch and it was deserved as a regretful Arne Slot, two baying camera-men up in his grill, sighed and regarded like he needed the Anfield turf to swallow him up.
After 32 photographs, a man-of-the-match goalkeeping show by Martin Dubravka and a first-half Reds efficiency that was higher than most of late, the Premier League champions nonetheless ended up with only one level to indicate for it.
The glass-half-full take is that that is now 12 unbeaten however the glass-half-empty argument is that, nicely, this current run has been uninspiring, insipid and filled with vulnerability as, but once more, they tossed away a commanding place.
At the very least the Reds stayed dedicated to Dry January, this a fourth straight draw for the reason that flip of the 12 months. The 0-0 at Arsenal was pleasing however factors dropped in opposition to Leeds, Fulham and Burnley have been borderline embarrassing, particularly taken as a trio.
Marcus Edwards was Burnley’s hero as they celebrated an unlikely consequence and boss Scott Parker, who was serenaded by the away finish, deserves a mountain of credit score. However he shouldn’t have been given the possibility to take action.
Slot’s take was that his staff created greater than sufficient to win simply whereas Burnley solely had two possibilities of observe and, whereas true, it’s now a well-trodden excuse and a few followers have began to lose belief.
Liverpool have been held to a 1-1 draw by newly-promoted Burnley on Saturday afternoon at Anfield
As he strolled onto the pitch on the remaining whistle, Arne Slot regarded like he needed the Anfield turf to swallow him up
Whether or not that’s honest, it’s astonishing how rapidly he has turned from hero to zero within the eyes of some.
Simply six months in the past, when Slot led the Reds to the Premier League title in what was one of many best debut managerial campaigns we have now ever seen. He might stroll into any pub within the metropolis and get a free tipple (save for some close to Everton’s stadium).
Now, if performances don’t enhance within the coming months, he runs the chance of being turned away on the doorways.
This match, essentially the most disappointing consequence but of a dismal star to the 12 months, was Slot’s new-look Liverpool in a microcosm.
For 45 minutes within the first half, they have been breath-taking. A balletic Florian Wirtz was gliding round selecting holes in Burnley’s cussed defence, Hugo Ekitike was doing his finest impression of Brazilian Ronaldo they usually have been creating possibilities on demand.
When Wirtz put them forward with a intelligent, disguised end, one thought they might run away and win comfortably.
However then after the break got here the darkish aspect to this Jekyll and Hyde aspect. As if to say ‘come on Burnley, you’ve barely had a sniff, come and have a shot or two’, the Reds retreated, invited strain from Scott Parker’s males, a relegation cert for many, and it was expensive.
After a blunder from Ibrahima Konate noticed him almost shank an tried clearance into his personal aim in what ended up being a significant defensive intervention, the away staff all of a sudden smelt blood.
Within the absence of Mo Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai stepped as much as take a penalty within the first half and struck the crossbar
Florian Wirtz, who seems to be to be discovering his ft, scored the opener earlier than the interval
However Burnley’s standout man Marcus Edwards sealed the guests some extent within the second half
With their subsequent assault, they have been degree, with former Tottenham man Marcus Edwards firing laborious and low previous Alisson. Once more, how and why did Burnley have a lot area?
Liverpool then began to queue up and take it in turns to overlook photographs as they tried to re-establish the lead however Burnley stood tall. Many away gamers deserve credit score however none extra so than defender Axel Tuanzebe.
The well-travelled 28-year-old, as soon as of Manchester United, was whisked off as quickly because the full-time whistle sounded to witness the delivery of his youngster. ‘Axel’s spouse has gone into labour,’ Parker later defined.
‘It was contact and go whether or not he would play at present because it was happening for about 16 hours however we had a automobile outdoors with the engine operating and he’s along with her now!’
For a lot of the second half as Liverpool toiled, ideas turned to Casablanca. Not the 1942 Humphrey Bogart traditional – however the location of a sure Mohamed Salah, who was taking part in a recreation most likely needed as a lot as a toothache could be: a third-place AFCON play-off.
What would he have thought as Dominik Szoboszlai, stand-in penalty taker, rattled the bar with a first-half spot-kick? After which the Egyptian will need to have contemplated how missed he’s as his membership team-mates had all of the ball however lacked the innovative.
He will probably be again within the coming days and the way they want him after one other day of rueing missed alternatives.
On the booing, Slot stated: ‘In the event you, as Liverpool, will not be disillusioned by having a draw at dwelling to Burnley then one thing is totally incorrect. I fully perceive the frustration. I and the gamers positively have the identical frustrations because the followers.’
However higher performances rely for nothing if not backed up with wins to go along with it. Liverpool at the moment are 17 factors worse off than this time final season and would wish to win each single recreation between now and the tip of the marketing campaign to higher final time period’s finish tally.
That could be a damning indictment of their underwhelming season and this was one other regretful episode for Slot and Co.
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Alisson 5.5; Frimpong 6.5, Konate 6, Van Dijk 6, Kerkez 7.5 (Robertson 78); Gravenberch 6 (Mac Allister 78), Jones 5 (Chiesa 87); Wirtz 8, Szoboszlai 5.5 Gakpo 6 (Ngumoha 78); Ekitike 7.
Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Nyoni, Ramsay.
Booked: Kerkez.
Scorers: Wirtz 42.
Supervisor: Arne Slot 5.
BURNLEY (3-4-2-1): DUBRAVKA 8; Tuanzebe 7, Esteve 7, Humphreys 7; Walker 7, Uguchukwu 6 (Laurent 84), Florentino 7.5 (Tchaouna 90), Pires 6; Edwards 7.5 (Mejbri 90), Anthony 7.5; Broja 6 (Foster 72, 6).
Subs not used: Weiss, Barnes, Bruun Larsen, Ekdal, Hartman.
Booked: Barnes, Humphreys.
Scorers: Edwards 65.
Supervisor: Scott Parker 7.
Referee: Andy Madley 5.
Attendance: not supplied.
