Liverpool was held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, with the UK's media reacting to growing fan unrest and Arne Slot facing scrutiny
11:14, 10 May 2026Updated 11:15, 10 May 2026
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on May 09, 2026 in Liverpool, England
Arne Slot reacts during Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool's Champions League ambitions took a knock as it was held to a lackluster 1-1 stalemate against an underwhelming Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday.
Ryan Gravenberch handed the Reds an ideal opening with an early strike, but the visitors were handed a route back when Enzo Fernandez's free-kick evaded everyone and crept in at the far post.
The resulting 90 minutes dragged interminably before the final whistle was greeted by boos from the home crowd. Liverpool.com was once again present at Anfield to watch events unfold, along with the UK's assembled media. Here's what they made of another uninspiring performance from the Reds.
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Paul Joyce - The Times
"Some of Liverpool's all-time greats, including Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush, will reconvene on Sunday for a trip down memory lane.
"It will be 40 years to the day since the club completed the league and FA Cup Double in Dalglish's first season as player-manager and the duo will be among those reminiscing about a remarkable campaign at the city's MandS Bank Arena.
"Memories will abound about beating their neighbours Everton at Wembley having claimed the title, and the event is sure to draw crowds.
"The past will always remain so alluring while the present is like this."
Giorgi Mamardashvili & Virgil van Dijk Liverpool react after Chelsea score during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on May 9, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom
Liverpool still hasn't secured Champions League qualification heading into its final two games(Image: Getty Images)
Andy Hunter - The Guardian
"Liverpool are crawling towards Champions League qualification with dissent on their backs.
"There were boos on the final whistle, louder boos when Arne Slot withdrew Rio Ngumoha for Alexander Isak and jeers while Chelsea were dominating possession. And that was in the 39th minute. Protests over rising ticket prices may have been abandoned but unrest remains audible at Anfield.
"For Liverpool this was another taxing afternoon. Deep-rooted frustrations over the team's style of play and Slot's substitutions bubbled to the surface. Ngumoha had cramp, the head coach explained.
"Liverpool fans were not to know that at the time and made their discontent clear when the 17-year-old's number went up. The sound of Anfield captured Liverpool's performance to perfection."
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Dominic King - The Telegraph
"Much water has passed under the bridge since January 1, 2011, but that bleak afternoon must be revisited following Liverpool's latest false step.
"The context: Liverpool played host to Bolton Wanderers and Roy Hodgson was manager. A few days earlier, his side had been beaten 1-0 by Wolves at Anfield and The Kop erupted, singing "Hodgson for England!" as the contest petered out – the chant, to be clear, wasn't complimentary. A week later, Hodgson was gone.
"That's only 15 years ago and, truly, that was a time you could describe as being one of the worst in the club's history. Why, then, does the feeling around Anfield now make it impossible not to draw the conclusion this is worse?
"Feeling is a key word. In the tunnel, there is a slogan proclaiming to players that "it's the emotion that gets you" before they head onto the pitch – Anfield is different in terms of the energy that can be drawn from emotion but, at present, positivity is non-existent."
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 9, 2026
Arne Slot is facing more pressure after Liverpool dropped points against Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
Paul Gorst - Liverpool Echo
"It's hard to know at this stage of a tired, underwhelming season just who is the most desperate for it to end.
"Is it the exhausted Liverpool players, punch-drunk after 18 defeats in 55 games? Or is it the supporters? Those who are growing increasingly weary at such an ordinary brand of football.
"It may be the latter because Anfield has been an angry place lately.
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"Need a result? Come to Anfield it seems. This is not quite the fortress it once was. Arne Slot must find a way to restore this place's fear factor next season, but that may take some time based on the noise that greeted the final whistle of this draw."