The Anfield crowd booed Liverpool boss Arne Slot during the game and at the end of their underwhelming draw with Chelsea as the Dutchman attempts to get them back on side
Liverpool manager Arne Slot kicks out in frustration
Joe Gomez was sent on by Arne Slot towards the end of a frustrating game for the Liverpool manager(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
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In his eleven years at the club, Joe Gomez has seen many ups and a few downs. And having had his own problems - his career interrupted by serious injuries - the defender can bring some perspective to matters.
As a crisis scenario goes, Liverpool’s is hardly a blockbuster. They are long odds-on to secure Champions League football for next season, were removed from this season’s Champions League knockout stages only by Paris Saint-Germain and were eliminated from the FA Cup by Manchester City.
Last season, they won the Premier League. On the face of it, the season has been very disappointing, but not catastrophic.
But it is still unlikely Gomez - the longest-serving player on the Anfield staff - has heard jeers directed towards his manager as vociferous as those directed towards Arne Slot during and after the draw with Chelsea. As it happened, the boos prompted by Rio Ngumoha’s removal midway through the second half were ill-conceived, the 17-year-old having been struck by cramp after his lively contribution.
But while Slot’s withdrawal of Ngumoha was the correct and obvious thing to do, the boos were still a vocal symbol of dissatisfaction that is becoming deep-seated.
And that dissatisfaction was highlighted by the crowd’s reaction at the final whistle. Maybe even more damningly, some home fans had left early even though the game was very much in the balance. The jeering clearly struck a nerve of a player who made his Anfield debut in 2015.
“We feel it,” said Gomez, who replaced Ibrahima Konate late in the game. “It is the last thing we want. For us older boys who have experienced so many good times here, it does hurt. If it didn’t, then you shouldn’t still be here. We’ve all said on record a few times this year that we know this is not where we want to be or the position we want to be in.
Fans of Liverpool leave the stadium during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield
Some disgruntled Liverpool fans left the game against Chelsea before the final whistle(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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"I think we get it, we understand it. I guess it is just a summary of our year and a reaction to the whole year, and that's fair enough. We want to make it right.”
And Gomez gave an interesting insight into the tactical struggles that appear to have turned Liverpool into a less vibrant, less direct attacking team. After a freakish Enzo Fernandez free-kick had cancelled out Ryan Gravenberch’s early strike, Gomez said: “Tactically, we made a step last year which was very effective and one of the strengths of our coaching staff is to adapt for every game and try and expose and overload in certain areas. That is a different style to the faster pace.
“We get that sometimes it's not as fluid or as high intensity on the ball as always. It does get frustrating when it gets fragmented but there’s also been times when it’s controlled the game - although not as much this year.
Rio Ngumoha walks off the pitch after being substituted
Arne Slot had to explain his substitution of Rio Ngumoha after the Anfield crowd reacted angrily to his decision(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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“It’s a Catch 22 sometimes when you're trying to control the game, keep possession. But that isn't always high-paced, trying to thread the ball in behind and score.”
Slot bristles at suggestions he is not a forward-thinking coach. But there is no doubting his current failure to inspire Liverpool fans.
“I can’t engage or give you a guide on that,” said Gomez. “But, fundamentally, if we win the game, there are no boos. That is what we can affect. The black and white thing now is we need Champions League football. That’s the objective. We get that, we dust ourselves off and we go again.”
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