Liverpool had to settle for a point in their 1-1 draw with Sunderland in the Premier League on Wednesday, and it means they've now gone three games without a win at Anfield
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool
Liverpool draw 1-1 with Sunderland in the Premier League(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Liverpool have been told by Danny Murphy why their performance in their draw with Sunderland was so "troubling". The Reds were forced to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
Arne Slot's side had gone into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over West Ham in the top flight, improving a run which had seen six defeats in their last seven top-flight matches and nine out of 12 across all competitions.
However, Liverpool were unable to get a victory against the newly-promoted club on home soil on Wednesday evening, with a Nordi Mukiele own goal getting the Reds back on level terms after Chemsdine Talbi's opener for the visitors.
The stalemate leaves Liverpool in eighth place in the Premier League table but could be overtaken by Manchester United, who face West Ham on Thursday evening.
Former Liverpool star Danny Murphy was on punditry duty for BBC's Match of the Day on Wednesday evening, where he provided an assessment on the club's current predicament after their latest setback.
"I thought Liverpool lacked intensity without the ball," Murphy said.
"They didn't look particularly comfortable, the set-up, the way they were playing.
"I think with the ball, in the final third, the quality was lacking at times.
"There was a lack of idea, sharpness. For the amount of talented players Liverpool have, they're not creating enough chances and they're certainly not scoring enough goals.
"They'll have to take a point and move forward, but it was a troubling performance."
Slot gave his verdict on Liverpool's draw with Sunderland after the final whistle, with the Reds head coach explaining why he had mixed emotions about the result.
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool
Arne Slot had mixed emotions after Liverpool's draw with Sunderland
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“I feel a bit of both (pleased and frustrated). I knew before the game, when you play Sunderland, from their 14 games they have played now they only conceded more than one goal four times and in these four games they have only conceded two," Slot said.
“So it is hard team to score against. It is a hard team to create chances against.
“They either go really aggressive in a high press or they have 11 players who defend their box with their lives. That’s why it’s so difficult to create.
“In that aspect I was hoping for more but I knew how difficult it is to create against them. We have hardly conceded the first big chance.
“I don’t count the one that hit the bar because that was not a chance, but the first was from a set piece that hit the post. And then their goal is not even a chance.
“If that is a chance we have had 20 chances tonight but unfortunately a deflection led to us going 1-0 down.
“In recent games we have found it really hard to get an equaliser although we had our chances every time.
“Today we have had a bit of luck with scoring 1-1 because it was also a deflection. For me it’s different because that is a shot from eight, nine yards, 10 so that is a serious chance.
“A shot from 20 yards isn’t a serious chance. An opportunity but not a serious chance.”