Steven Gerrard Says Burnley Draw “Not Acceptable”

With Saturday’s Anfield draw against relegation favourites Burnley, Liverpool have now stretched their unbeaten streak to 12 games. After being mired in mid-table following a diabolical run through October and November, the defending at least in the top four—albeit tenuously, with Manchester United just a point back.

A draw against relegation favourites Burnley at Anfield, though, isn’t likely to have anyone celebrating. And a string of similar results against a similar class of opponents over the past month had for many taken the shine off that unbeaten streak well before today’s result. As such, there will be criticism, including from Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.

“A draw with Burnley at home won’t be acceptable with all due respect,” Gerrard said in an appearance as a matchday pundit on TNT Sports. “If you’re being critical of this Liverpool team—even though they’re on a better run in terms of games unbeaten—draws to the likes of Leeds and Burnley at home, that’s not acceptable.

“So there will be a lot of criticism that comes the manager’s way. But give the manager credit, [he] was capable of making things better, steadying the ship, and has moved the team from the middle of the table up back into the Champions League positions. I think that will be the priority, but it won’t take away from the criticism that will come his way.”

It’s difficult to know quite how to judge Liverpool and manager Arne Slot. There are plenty of reasons this side would have struggled to start the year. And certainly results of late have been improved. But performances too often have remained lacking, and there is a certain unpleasantness to watching this Liverpool side try to play.

Grinding out results against top opposition would be one thing, but plodding performances and a defence-first mindset against bottom of the table opposition isn’t what anyone expected after last summer’s £450M transfer reload—especially when paired with a side that remains seemingly mentally fragile and prone to falling apart at the slightest excuse.

All told, then, there will be criticism. Rightfully so, as Gerrard notes. How much that is tempered by the recent run of relatively good results will differ from person to person, but what seems clear is that no matter how much leeway one is willing to give Slot and this group, we need to start seeing more from them, and soon.