Liverpool Fans Boo Slot's Side After Chelsea Draw Despite Early Lead

Arne Slot must quickly grasp that Anfield supporters expect energy and intensity from Liverpool.

The Reds have too often lacked spark at home this season, failing to seize leads and finish off opponents. They took an early advantage against Chelsea, who had lost their previous six Premier League matches, but let Calum McFarlane's struggling team claw back into the contest.

"The adjustment we made at halftime helped us be the more dominant team in the second half. We were twice close," Slot said. "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 equalized for Chelsea, marking the ninth point Liverpool has dropped from winning positions in home Premier League games this season, their highest tally at Anfield since 2015-16, when Jurgen Klopp succeeded Brendan Rodgers.

"Our identity is intensity," Pep Lijnders said as Klopp's assistant. Slot's mandate was to forge his own path, not mimic Klopp, but his squad has shown no clear identity or intensity this year.

"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," Wayne Rooney said 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."

Fans issued loud boos at full time, despite the draw. Online grumbling has escalated to frustration among matchgoers.

"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 said: "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."

In his post-match news conference, Slot addressed the boos. He struggled for words 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."