Liverpool and Chelsea played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday, with the home side booed off at full time. Arne Slot's team took an early lead but conceded from a set piece, a recurring issue that the manager acknowledged after the match.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Slot said: 'We started off really well … scored a goal … got a big chance from a set-piece where we were close to scoring the 2-0 … then in quite a large phase of the game we struggled to control their 6s … unfortunately, like last week, we conceded a set piece.' He added that the second half saw a different intensity but it was not enough to secure victory.
The decision to substitute Rio Ngumoha drew criticism from fans, but Slot explained it was due to muscle concerns. 'When I asked him he said “hmm, no, not sure if I can continue”,' Slot revealed. The manager also addressed the booing, stating: 'It completely makes sense that people are disappointed if we don’t win because we want to win.'
Ryan Gravenberch urged fans to stay behind the team, saying: 'We need them behind us … in the second half, when they were behind us we pressed, so we need it.' Chelsea's Calum McFarlane felt his side deserved to win, adding: 'We’ve shown who we are as a group.'
The point keeps Liverpool in fourth place, though Aston Villa could leapfrog them with a win at Burnley. Chelsea remain ninth. Wesley Fofana claimed the equaliser, saying: 'Everyone says on the video I touched the ball so I touched the ball!'
