Liverpool supporters have become all-too used to seeing inferior teams rock up at Anfield and snatch something this season.
Under Jurgen Klopp, the Reds’ home became an impenetrable fortress, with plenty of sides already beaten by the time they set foot on the pitch.
This continued to a large degree during Arne Slot‘s first season in charge, but the aura of invincibility has slipped alarmingly this term and was punctured once again by Burnley on Saturday.
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The Clarets never really looked like letting a hard-earned point slip from their grasp after Marcus Edwards’ 65th minute equaliser and in holding Liverpool, they ensured that the Reds have failed to beat any of the newly-promoted teams at Anfield for the first time in Premier League history.
That speaks to a larger problem for Slot and the Liverpool players, and pundits Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer believed that Saturday’s draw – a fourth consecutive Premier League stalemate – showcased exactly what the Reds are missing right now.
Liverpool lacking midfield protection
Normally when a team as good as Liverpool are struggling to be their usual selves, there are one or two clear reasons for that.
In this Liverpool team, however, there are numerous, with Shearer pointing out the lack of dynamism at full-back and in midfield especially as areas for concern.
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“Those 12 games unbeaten feels very underwhelming doesn’t it,” he said on BBC Match of the Day on Saturday evening.
“There’s definitely lots of things missing in that team. They’re certainly not as dynamic in full-back positions, they’re miles off from what they had in midfield last year, there’s no way their back four is getting the protection that they got last year.
“Ekitike has been the standout [new signing] and also they’ve got Salah to come back, is that going to cause an issue with what happened before he went away? We’ll have to see. But they’re miles off from what we saw last season.”
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Wayne Rooney claims ‘it’s not the end of the world’ for Liverpool
While Shearer was quick to point to a lack of midfield and full-back protection for the defence, Rooney claimed that Liverpool have also failed at the other end of the pitch where they simply have not been taking their chances.
“I’ve been critical of Liverpool throughout the season, they haven’t been clinical enough,” he said. “They haven’t flowed the way they did last season, they haven’t had that aura and chemistry about the team.”
However, despite the pressure Slot is coming under to lose his job at Anfield, Rooney said he does not believe it is ‘the end of the world’ for either the club or the beleaguered head coach.
“I think it’s a worrying time, not the end of the world for Liverpool and Arne Slot I don’t think, but I think it’s a worrying time what’s happened this season,” said the Manchester United legend.
Slot is likely to fight another day at Liverpool, but if these tepid draws continue, the owners may be forced to take drastic action. It’s time for the head coach to fix the issues, or find another job.
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