The Premier League champion disappointed again on Saturday with Aniel and did not progress after taking the lead through Florian Wirtz.
A further two points were thrown away in the battle for the top four, with Liverpool’s 12 unbeaten games masking the team’s many shortcomings.
Here’s how the media judged a poor result for the Reds.
It was another bad day in a season of struggle…
On Xthe Mail‘S Lewis Steele made it clear what he thinks of Liverpool’s title defense:
“Liverpool [are] 17 points worse off than last season this time around, and would need to win every game from here to equal last season’s points total.
“A truly unfortunate title defense. I know of extenuating circumstances, but Arne Slot’s football has been difficult to watch for months.”
James Pearce from The Athletic pointed out the boos at Anfield as Liverpool made another mess of being in front:
“There’s a lot of boos around Anfield. Liverpool have made an absolute mess of it.”
“Failed to kill Parker’s lowly side and paid the price, with Edwards canceling Wirtz’s opener. So sloppy. Left to Szoboszlai’s missed penalty.”
“It’s only their fault.”
David Lynch was someone else who found it impossible to be positive:
“Liverpool’s job this year is to put in their best, most balanced performance against a low block all season and still somehow find a way not to win the game.
“These days can happen, but it’s so much harder to justify when you’ve already dropped so many points.”
Adam Patel by BBC Sports scathingly highlighted Liverpool’s problems:
“In the end, the stats won’t make for much fun reading: 74 touches in the opponent’s penalty area, 32 shots, 11 on target and an xG of 2.95 for Liverpool – but ultimately only one goal and one point.
“For the first time in the Premier League era, Liverpool have failed to beat any of the three promoted clubs at Anfield in the same season.
“And not for the first time this season, there were boos from the home crowd when the whistle blew.”
The pressure on Slot continues to increase…
BBC Sports Keifer McDonald hinted X that enough is enough now with Liverpool head coach:
“It feels like I’ve been watching the same game over and over again for weeks, even months, and nothing changes.
“For the first time in more than forty years, it is not good enough to beat one of the newly promoted teams in our own country.”
Speaking on TNT Sports, Liverpool legend Steven Gerard admitted that the pressure on Slot is increasing:
“The team he has built and the team he has inherited must have enough quality and enough talent to open up these teams and score goals.
“One-nil at home, you always run the risk of conceding a sloppy goal and that leads to a loss of two points.
“Arne is going to have a difficult week for the Champions League.”
Finally, commenter Keith Costigan regretted Slot’s man management after the break:
“Disastrous result against a very bad Burnley team.
“Not clinical enough in front of goal and man management again suspect in the second half. Top four is really in danger with this kind of result.”
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