Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has described the side’s recent draw against Burnley as “unacceptable,” suggesting manager Arne Slot is in for a challenging week amidst growing speculation about his future at Anfield.
The Reds’ 1-1 draw at home with the newly-promoted side marks their third consecutive failure to clinch victory against such teams this season, an unprecedented occurrence since the inception of the Premier League. Despite maintaining a 12-match unbeaten streak, the stalemates against Sunderland, Leeds, and now Burnley have raised eyebrows among the Anfield faithful.
Florian Wirtz put Liverpool ahead with a fine strike, yet Marcus Edwards equalised in the second half. Dominik Szoboszlai’s missed penalty in the opening half proved costly, as Liverpool drew their fourth consecutive Premier League game.
Gerrard, now a pundit, anticipates Slot will face intensified scrutiny following the lacklustre performance at home.
“While their unbeaten run appears impressive, the draws against Leeds and Burnley at Anfield are simply not good enough,” asserted Gerrard. “Criticism will inevitably follow the manager.”
Nonetheless, Gerrard did credit Slot for elevating the team’s Premier League standing, now contending for a Champions League spot. “The manager deserves some credit for pulling the team back up the table. But securing a top-four finish must remain a priority,” said Gerrard, acknowledging the criticism that still looms.
When questioned about Slot’s more conservative tactics, Gerrard maintained that Liverpool’s squad should possess sufficient quality to overcome opponents deploying a defensive strategy. “Regardless of injuries up front, the depth and talent within this team should be enough to unlock defences,” he argued.
“A team of Liverpool’s calibre can’t afford to persistently drop points, especially at home. Slot faces a testing week ahead of their upcoming Champions League fixture.”
The coming days will be crucial for Slot and Liverpool as they attempt to navigate through this turbulent period and regain winning momentum.