‘Everything is broken, it’s clear Slot cannot fix this’ – Liverpool fans react to 1-1 draw with Sunderland | OneFootball

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Liverpool turmoil deepens after Sunderland draw as pressure mounts on Arne Slot

Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield has intensified scrutiny on Arne Slot, with frustration spilling over among supporters and seasoned observers alike. The defending champions, now eighth in the Premier League table, produced another disjointed performance that raised further questions about the direction of the team and the clarity of its tactical identity.

On Anfield Index’s Post-Match Raw, Trev Downey, Dave Hendrick and Jim Boardman delivered a stark assessment of Liverpool’s current state, capturing the concerns now echoing widely across the fanbase.

Florian Wirtz of Liverpool looks dejected Liverpool v Sunderland, Premier League, Football, Anfield, Liverpool, UK – 03 Dec 2025L

Mounting frustration around performance levels

Across all areas of the pitch, Liverpool’s issues were hard to ignore. The rhythm, sharpness and aggression that once defined this team are now conspicuous by their absence. As one voice put it: “This iteration of Liverpool is… I’m bored. I’m so bored watching these matches. It’s nothing football. Side-to-side wank.” That blunt summary reflects a team lacking urgency and creativity despite dominating possession.

The numbers were alarming. Liverpool registered 23 shots but generated just 1.3 expected goals, a statistic that underlined the lack of quality in their final-third work. Hendrick highlighted the scale of the attacking breakdown, noting: “I’m lost for words at how bad we are right now. Anybody who thought that West Ham game was the turning of anything was deluded.”

Despite the presence of elite attacking talent, clear chances were sparse. Even after equalising through a heavily deflected Florian Wirtz strike, Liverpool struggled to build pressure or maintain momentum.

Criticism grows over Arne Slot’s decisions

The most pointed discussions centred on Slot himself. The manager is now facing serious doubts about his ability to arrest Liverpool’s slide, with concerns focused on tactical rigidity, questionable selections and diminishing returns from a once-fluid attacking system.

Hendrick delivered one of the sharpest assessments: “He has no idea how to fix things. He has no concept of how to fix any individual aspect of what’s going wrong.” That sentiment was reinforced by a sense that the manager is struggling to motivate his squad or extract consistent performances.

Jim Boardman echoed the feeling that the situation may now be unsalvageable: “This guy’s just not… he’s not got the ability at the moment to get the best out of these players. It’s time to move him on.”

What is most concerning for Liverpool, however, is the lack of visible tactical progression. The same patterns, the same issues, the same stagnation. As another quote captured: “There’s not one good partnership in this team right now. Football is about partnerships, and we have none.”

Standout performers overlooked

One of the night’s major talking points was Federico Chiesa. Again left out of the starting XI, the forward came on late and produced a match-saving recovery run to deny Sunderland a 2-1 victory.

His omission baffled supporters and pundits alike. As Hendrick summarised: “Federico Chiesa… the manager won’t start him for whatever reason… and tonight he saved us from a defeat at home.” In a team struggling for leadership and assertiveness, Chiesa’s attitude stood out sharply against others who appeared flat and uninspired.

Fears of a season slipping away

Liverpool remain just two points off the top four, but the performances paint a far bleaker picture. Momentum is evaporating and confidence is draining. Downey expressed the dread now creeping into the fanbase: “We’re going around the same circle, circling the drain until we fall out the drain. The season is now on the cusp of being completely gone.”

With fixtures against Leeds, Inter and Brighton approaching, the club may soon reach a critical juncture. Support for Slot has not disappeared entirely, but the belief is fading quickly. As Hendrick warned, extending this run too long could turn sentiment against the manager personally, rather than simply against his results.

Liverpool are in danger of letting a season with real promise unravel. The next decisions from the boardroom may shape far more than the months ahead.