The final whistle at Anfield on Saturday was met with a rare chorus of boos. While a 1-1 draw against Chelsea might typically evoke such a reaction, the context is crucial. Chelsea arrived at Anfield on the back of six consecutive league losses, appearing vulnerable and ripe for the taking. Yet, for the umpteenth time this season, Liverpool was unable to capitalize on an opponent’s struggles.
This pattern of failing to decisively beat struggling teams has been a recurring theme. Consider Manchester United’s visit in October; they secured their first away win of the season at Anfield after accumulating only a single point from their initial three league road games. Similarly, Nottingham Forest, who had a difficult start to their away campaign with three losses and two draws in their first five away fixtures, managed a convincing 3-0 victory at Liverpool in November. Even Burnley, who had lost eight of their ten away league matches prior to their Anfield visit in January, managed to secure a 1-1 draw.