Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch says Reds did not deserve to be booed following draw against Chelsea - 'Hopefully they won't do this any more'

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Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has defended his team-mates after they were jeered off the pitch following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield.

'We don't deserve this' - Gravenberch responds to Anfield boos

Video credit: TNT Sports

Arne Slot's side surrendered an early advantage handed to them by Gravenberch as Enzo Fernandez's free-kick ensured Chelsea ended their six-game Premier League losing streak on Merseyside before next weekend's Emirates FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Liverpool are yet to guarantee UEFA Champions League football for next season after their latest stuttering performance, a week on from losing 3-2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

There were jeers midway through the second half when Slot decided to replace 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha with striker Alexander Isak - a reaction that spoke volumes for the drifting relationship between the head coach and his supporters.

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Liverpool are in fourth position with two games remaining and have fixtures away to Aston Villa and at home to Brentford on the final day still to come. Should Villa win away to Burnley on Sunday afternoon, Slot's side would drop to fifth.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Gravenberch called on the fanbase to come together for the final matches of the season and said the whistles from the stands would only have a negative effect on the players.

"To be honest, we need them behind us," the Netherlands international said. "We didn't win but I don't think we deserved this.

Liverpool are stumbling over the finish line in the Premier League

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"Fans have to be behind us for 90 minutes because, in the second half, when they were behind us, we started to play well again. We need them, so hopefully in the next few games they won't do this any more."

Reflecting on the failure to hold onto the lead, Gravenberch added: "Yes, of course we are [disappointed] because we have to share the points.

"We wanted the three points but obviously they are a very good team who play well here, so in the end I do think they deserved a point as well.

"We created chances, with a couple coming from Dom [Szoboszlai]. If we had been a bit luckier, those would've gone in. In the end, we didn't make it, so we are a bit disappointed.

"It hasn't been a great season from us. There are still two games left, so we have to try to win those to secure our Champions League spot."

Fernandez's equaliser was the 18th goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece this season - more than any other Premier League side - while Gravenberch's goal was from their only shot on target during an opening 45 minutes in which the home side drastically lost their way.

Jeremie Frimpong and Curtis Jones both struggled to contain the threat of Marc Cucurella down Chelsea's left flank and the visitors came within inches of taking the lead in the second period when the Spain full-back was judged to have been marginally offside by VAR before Cole Palmer converted from close range.

Slot accepted that his side did not do enough to earn the three points which would have secured Champions League football next season and he could understand the frustrations of those watching from the stands.

"We started off really well and got a big chance from a set-piece which was close to making it 2-0," Slot told TNT Sports.

Gravenberch ‘beauty’ gives Liverpool early lead over Chelsea

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"Unfortunately, like last week, we conceded a set-piece. It was such a sloppy goal. The second half I saw a completely different intensity. We went close a few times.

"Like so many times this season, we hit the post and bar. We were not able to control their players. They played with a lot of midfielders today."

On fans booing at full-time, Slot added: "That's probably got something to do with us not winning. It completely makes sense people are disappointed if Liverpool don't win."

Slot said that muscle fatigue contributed to his decision to withdraw Ngumoha, who spoke to his head coach prior to being withdrawn to alert him of the issue.

It did not prevent supporters from voicing their displeasure at Slot's decision to replace the winger with Alexander Isak after 67 minutes, and the subject of the head coach's long-term future at Anfield was debated by TNT Sports pundits Peter Crouch and Joe Cole in the aftermath of the stalemate.

Cole told TNT Sports: "The relationship between players and the fans of a club is always tempestuous. The game is emotional and, although they won the league last year in fantastic fashion with the new manager, you always got the feeling that whoever replaced Jurgen Klopp had to be perfect, stepping into his shoes.

Anfield boos in frustration as Ngumoha substituted - 'You rarely hear anything like that'

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"Last year it was perfect, but this year they've changed a lot of players and it's dropped below perfect. It's the first time in a long time that I've felt a restlessness in the crowd here at Liverpool. As a player, you feel like that sometimes.

"You run your socks off against a decent Chelsea side. You've got a point, it could have gone either way, and then you're getting booed off at home.

"You can then get emotional. The fans will stay with them. They will be with the side in the next game but it's very difficult to say if getting the boos is deserved or not. It's just because the standards are so high."

Fernandez free-kick eludes everyone as Chelsea draw level at Anfield

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When asked if Slot had lost the fans, Crouch told TNT Sports: "I do think there's an element of that. There's slight unrest with the manager at the moment. It was obviously so good under Jurgen Klopp, but I think you've got to try and park that.

"He was a one-off. The brand of football was so exciting and attacking, so it's hard to live up to that. Unfortunately, the style of play and some of the recruitment haven't been to the levels of previous seasons.

"That has disappointed the fans and they're very knowledgeable in this stadium. They're now wondering if this is the direction they want to go in under this manager. In the summer, certain conversations do need to be had over whether they double down and back Slot or whether they make a change."

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